Tinubu-Buhari Merger Talks Failed Due to Running Mate Dispute

Lai Mohammed, a former minister, discussed the unsuccessful merger talks between Bola Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 during an interview with political content creator Edmund Obilo. Mohammed stated that the primary reason for the failure was the disagreement over the selection of a running mate.

Buhari had already chosen Pastor Tunde Bakare as his running mate, which led to a lack of consensus between him and Tinubu. This disagreement was significant as it highlighted the challenges in forming a coalition.

The talks were part of the efforts to unite various political factions, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which was led by Tinubu, and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) led by Buhari, along with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). The failure of this alliance ultimately contributed to the political landscape in Nigeria leading up to the 2011 elections.