By Mohamed Gibril Sesay 

There are a number of imperatives, considerations and trade-offs to be taken into account and boxes that need to be ticked to ensure a ticket that can most mobilize all, including those who lean towards APC. At the same time, the consideration/ tradeoffs should not dampen enthusiasm for the ticket amongst key constituencies within the party. I divide them into three categories: the first category I call extremely imperative criteria. These criteria are ethnicity, region and religion. The second category I call useful criteria. This category has to do with party history/experience and gender. And the third category is personal biography.

Let’s talk about the imperative criteria: ethnicity, region and religion. The flagbearer and running mate should not be members of the same ethnicity. If the flagbearer is Themne, the running mate should not be of that ethnicity, that’s a non starter and a no no no. Another extremely imperative criteria is region. The flagbearer and running mate should not be members of the same region. If the flagbearer comes from the Northwest, as seem likely, the running mate should not be from that region. The running mate may therefore come from the Western Area, the Northern, Eastern or Southern Province. Another extremely imperative criteria is religion. The flagbearer and running mate should not be of the same religion. Should the flagbearer is Christian; the running mate should not be Christian- a Christian Christian in  Salone would introduce the absence of religious balance into the electoral campaign, and in a way that sorely disadvantages the APC.

Now let’s talk about the useful criteria category – deep party experience and contribution; then, gender. The first of these – party experience, deep knowledge and deep contributions – makes it easier to galvanize the party’s informal networks, country- wide; key individuals and groups, and political trust. This gives lots of party stamina to the ticket, and acknowledges work for the party in opposition and governance. Another is gender. The ticket having a man and woman looks fine, and may inspire some votes. But this – at this particular electoral cycle has to tie in with the imperative and other criteria and trade-offs mentioned above.

Also important is the biographical profile of the person to be chosen as running mate. This includes integrity, political and governance experience, personal appeal and charisma, and chemistry with the flagbearer. However, as argued in relation to the other criteria, these have to ride on the back of the extremely imperative criteria.

The ticket of the competitor and its demographic value should also not be neglected. In fact, it should consider under the category of imperative criteria.

As the APC elects its standard bearer, he ( it is almost certain that the flagbearer is a ‘he’) in consultation with the party’s National Advisory Committee, would do the people of this country a great service by taking these imperatives and criteria into consideration in naming his running mate.