Bola Tinubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has admitted submitting a dummy to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as his running mate.

At the 60th birthday of the House of Representatives speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, held in Abuja, Mr Tinubu: “I’m still searching for my running mate.” 

Mr Tinubu, whose controversial academic qualifications have again been brought to the fore when he refused to mention the primary and secondary schools he attended in the INEC form, submitted a name to the electoral body more than a week ago.

“I could see a deputy (Wase) sitting down there too. You are very good symbols of unity, dependability, and honesty; thank you. Thank you for both of you. You’ve not rocked the boat,” stated the APC presidential flag bearer. 

He added, “I will need to learn from both of you how you made the pair work because I’m still searching for my running mate.”

The erstwhile Lagos governor thanked Mr Gbajabiamila for playing a crucial role in helping him to clinch the APC presidential ticket.

“What you did during my primary (APC presidential election) is a story for another day. I’ve spent more time, too many times, and people might be bored,” Mr Tinubu pointed out. “They might be envious too. They might be jealous. I won a landslide. I thank you. Femi, with your determination, and reach, you are a contributor to our democratic growth. Thank you. It is about charting a path to success, you’ve done a good job, and I say thank you, thank you.”

Mr Tinubu’s statement on his search for a running mate lent credence to claims that the name he submitted to INEC was a stopgap until he found a suitable vice-presidential candidate.

Mr Tinubu, a Muslim who hails from Nigeria’s South-West, is expected to be on the 2023 presidential election ballot with a northern Christian as running mate to balance the predominant ethnic and religious forces.