Bola Tinubu has confirmed filing his vice-presidential candidate with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, but did not immediately disclose the individual.

Mr Tinubu, in a statement on Friday evening, said he had met all requirements to enter the crucial 2023 elections.

“As stipulated by the electoral law and Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines and timetable, the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, HE Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has returned his duly completed nomination forms to INEC,” Mr Tinubu’s media aide Tunde Rahman said in a statement. “The forms were returned on Wednesday, June 15, two days ahead of schedule.”

“We wish to reiterate that HE Asíwájú Tinubu now stands ready to contest the February 25, 2023, presidential election to deliver progressive good governance to our people,” Mr Rahman said.

Mr Tinubu’s failure to disclose his running mate comes amid reports he had settled on a Muslim from northern Nigeria, a decision that could upset the country’s Christian population.

Mr Tinubu’s main challenger Atiku Abubakar publicly unveiled his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa on Thursday afternoon at the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party headquarters in Abuja.