LIST: 5 Northern leaders who allegedly fought for Vice President's seat while Buhari was away

As the medical vacation of President Muhammadu Buhari extended to 51 days, and the rumors continued to spread, there were fears that he might not return.

There were rumors that if he did not return, someone would have to become Vice President to Yemi Osinbajo. According to unconfirmed sources there has been an intense lobby for a new vice president to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

The return of President Buhari has surely stopped all of such lobbying, yet it appears that political power brokers within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), are already putting together a list of likely candidates for the second highest office in the land.

Below are some likely names:

1. Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano

Muhammadu Sanusi II

Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II popularly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was born on July 31, 1961 and he is the curent Emir of the Kano Emirate, where he has been serving since June 8, 2014.

He was crowned as Emir of Kano, after the death of his grand uncle Ado Bayero, who died on June 6, 2014. He was also a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

2. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sokoto state Governor

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was born on January 10, 1966 and he is the Governor of Sokoto state. He is also the former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.

The APC member and represented the Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency of Sokoto state, when he was in the House of Representatives.

3. Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna state Governor

Nasir El-Rufai

Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai was born on February 16, 1960 and he is the incumbent Governor of Kaduna state and former Director General of The Bureau of Public Enterprises, the head privatisation agency in Nigeria.

He is widely believed to be President Buhari's right hand man and was also the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 2003 to 2007.

4. Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate

Bukola Saraki

Bukola Saraki is a Nigerian politician who has been President of the Senate of Nigeria since 2015. Previously he was Governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.

5. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Former EFCC chairman

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was born on November 21, 1960. He was the Chairman of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force and a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud.

Watch a video of Nigerians reacting to the president's arrival: