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Babatunde Ogala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and head of the Legal Directorate, Tinubu Campaign Organisation has said that his principal and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu did not break any law with his choice of his Muslim running mate even though he is also a Muslim.
Responding to the controversy over Tinubu’s choice of former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima as his running mate in an interview on Channels Television, Ogala maintained that the constitution didn’t talk about religion but about diversity and its representation.
The lawyer who also averred that Tinubu should be applauded for picking his running mate from a minority group, added that the 2023 presidential election was to be won and every candidate would do everything within the law to give himself the advantage.
He said;
“Has Tinubu done anything outside what the law permits by the choice of candidate? We need to go back to the constitution. Section 14 and 15 which deal basically with federal character, equity, fairness and justice is completely silent on religion.
“It talks about diversity, it talks about representation. The constitution didn’t talk about religion. So, there can’t be discrimination against religion.
“Are we looking at the fact that we have three major ethnic groups in Nigeria – Hause/Fulani, Yoruba and the Igbos? Are we giving a thought also to the minorities, one of whom is Kashim Shettima, a Kanuri from Borno?”
He also said that the APC, unlike the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has done well to respond to the yearnings of Nigerians. According to him, the ruling party gave its ticket to a southern candidate as requested by the southern governors.
Ogala also said that the party is now looking for how best to win the election, adding that “we are not building religious leaders, we are talking about leaders that will lead the country.”
He also expressed hope of Shettima delivering the votes the APC needs to win the election.
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