Ahead of 2015 general elections and not leaving any chances, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is shopping for the party’s vice presidential candidate right away.

This is even, as it was assumed that former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, may get the presidential slot. In case this option fails, incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido are on the card as replacement. But Governor Lamido has always said that as a founding father of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he won’t leave the party.

It was, however, learnt that the stakeholders who met behind the closed-door last weekend, have no mandate of the party or of any of the candidates being considered for the vice presidential slot, which was the highpoint of the parley.

The stakeholders at the meeting in Ogun State, having been convinced that the presidential flagbearer will surely come from the North, are now searching for a vice-presidential candidate from the South in preparation for the race.

During the meeting, which was chaired by a chieftain from Ondo State, some names were tabled for scrutiny with a view to agreeing on who to present when the chips are down for nomination, which is believed, could come as early as June this year.

Some of the names on the card, according to Daily Sun checks, are former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, his Rivers and Imo state counterparts, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Rochas Okorocha respectively as well as former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Richard, Adeniyi Adebayo.

A source at the meeting, who doesn’t want to be named, said, “if former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari eventually becomes the party’s presidential candidate, Tinubu will automatically pair with him because of their experiences and exposure as former rulers.

“If any of the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Mallam el-Rufai, incumbent Speaker, Hon. Tambuwal or Governor Lamido eventually picks the party’s ticket, any one among Fashola, Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Okorocha and Adebayo can be nominated for the vice presidential slot.”

Daily Sun, however, gathered that the issue of religion came up during deliberation which the conveners felt could have influence in the choice of the presidential running mate.

Though it was learnt that some of those in attendance felt that with the current political awareness of Nigerians, a Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket can be possible, another group is opposed to the arrangement, saying that any concept that did not take cognizance of the importance of religion in any political arrangement, would fail.

•Text courtesy Daily Sun. Photo shows APC presidential hopeful, Muhammadu Buhari.