Mr Paul Ibe, the media adviser to the former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar, has disclaimed ongoing reports linking him with the endorsement of an aspirant for the Kogi State governorship election scheduled for November 11 this year.
Atiku described the reports as “false and gross fabrication, noting that the process of selecting a standard bearer will be determined by the electorates and not an individual, no matter how powerful.
In a statement signed by himself, Ibe said his boss pleads with all the aspirants to make themselves available before the electors who would choose whom they want as the standard bearer of the PDP in the state.
The statement read,
“The attention of the former vice president of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has been drawn to several media reports insinuating his involvement in the democratic process of electing the gubernatorial flag bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party in the upcoming Kogi State governorship election.
“We wish to state categorically that such media reports are false and gross fabrication. Atiku is a consummate democrat and the hallmark of his political struggles has been for the enablement of internal democracy in party politics.
“It is, therefore, absurd to suggest that Atiku has a preferred candidate in the primary election to produce the governorship candidate of the PDP in the Kogi State election – or in any primary election, for that matter.
“For the avoidance of any doubts, Atiku Abubakar has no anointed candidate in the Kogi State primary election. He believes that the decision to elect the flag bearer of the PDP in the coming election in the Confluence State is the responsibility of electors in that primary election.”
He also warned aspirants to “desist from peddling influence with his name” while urging the media to not give room for any blackmail against him.”
Ibe added that the former vice president has faith in the capabilities of all the aspirants as they are up to the task of flying the standard of the PDP, noting that “electors should be given the unfettered rights to perform their constituted duty of electing the best person for the PDP.”
Atiku Abubakar was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Okowa. He lost out to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress.