Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, had earlier told The Guardian in a brief telephone interview that the report was intended to cause some mischief to the ambition of his boss.A statement issued by Atiku’s campaign office on Sunday described the report as a malicious attempt to confuse the public ahead of the forthcoming presidential primary election of the PDP. “For the avoidance of any doubts, Atiku remains the frontline aspirant for the presidential ticket of the PDP,” the statement stressed.“In the past two months, Atiku Abubakar has moved across states in the country consulting with stakeholders of the PDP and explaining to them his agenda encapsulated in the acronym JOBS: Jobs, Opportunity, Being united and Security) for Nigeria. In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP declared that the explanation became imperative particularly as the letter inviting Fani -Kayode did not state in specific terms, the alleged issues or conduct bordering on “conspiracy, criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehood and conduct likely to cause breach of peace” for which he has been invited. “We hope that the invitation is not a set up and part of the design to emasculate citizens, which is now being unleashed on media houses, journalists and other citizens for alleged comments and publications considered to be against the interest of the ruling party. “This is because reports, already available in credible media, have it that Fani-Kayode’s invitation ‘may not be unconnected’ with an interview he granted the Africa Independent Television (AIT) where he reportedly controverted claims by the Presidency and the APC that it was Senate President Bukola Saraki that masterminded the widely condemned invasion of the National Assembly,” the statement added.

Source: The Guardian August 27, 2018 04:07 UTC