Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has revealed what the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently going through in his quest for a substantive running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

The Governor pointed out that there are so many factors being considered in picking Tinubu’s running mate, thereby making it somewhat difficult for the former Lagos State Governor.

Without mentioning the issue of religion, which has formed much of the public debate among Nigerians, Governor Akeredolu centred his argument on zone, loyalty, and the area with the highest votes, as he listed the factors that have left the APC flagbearer racking his brain.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday evening, the Governor explained that, “The circumstance Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has found himself in now, that’s a major of what I’ll call ground-wetting." For instance, he’ll not pick from the South. So he’s left to make a choice from the north.

Because he’s from the South, he won’t pick from the South-East or South-South, and because he’s from the South-West, he has to pick from the North.

And when you look at the north, a lot of factors will have to come into play. Some will say, 'pick from the North West'. But the North West, that’s where the President now comes from.

“Will they have a second bite, whether as vice or anything?" Some will argue, 'Why not pick from the North East?’ That’s a factor to be considered.

Others can argue, 'Why not pick from North Central?’ So, another factor to be considered is, "okay, where do you get votes?"

So many factors, but under these circumstances, I think he is probably left with the North Central and North East because so many factors can come into play.

So, in determining who you pick at the end of the day, you have to look at loyalty. Will this person be loyal or will he be there to undermine you? Those are issues you’ll have to consider very seriously. "