2027: Saraki has not endorsed any presidential candidate — Aide

The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has denied claims that former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has endorsed any presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, the office said comments attributed to Demola Olanrewaju misrepresented Saraki’s position during a Channels TV interview.

“Our attention in the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has been drawn to a comment on X (formerly Tweeter) by one Demola Olanrewaju, who is said to be a senior political assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in which he claimed that Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s statement during an interview on Channels TV interview on Thursday to the effect that it is only fair that the country allows the South to complete eight years in the Presidency while the North waits till 2031 to take over “is an indirect endorsement of Tinubu’s second term,” the statement read.

The statement described the claim as a misinterpretation of Saraki’s remarks, stating, “This is a mischievous, incorrect and misinterpretation of an unambiguous statement made in clear English. Dr Saraki, in that interview, made it clear that, by his antecedents, he was not a person who would say or do A in the afternoon and then go back to do B in the night. Nor does he do things indirectly, as quoted by this Atiku’s aide.”

It added that Saraki would openly declare his position when the time comes.

“When the time comes, whoever is the candidate he will be supporting he will make it clear to members of the public. He added that he would not mince words about his plans nor hide his idea. He always stands for what he believes in, even at a great cost to him. If his view does not sit well with the ambition and plan of some other persons, then it is their cup of tea.”

The media office noted that Saraki had earlier supported the zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South.

“Dr Saraki in the Channels TV interview added that he was part of the people who in the National Executive Committee of PDP last year zoned the presidential ticket of the PDP to the South. It is a well known fact that President Tinubu is not the only southerner interested in contesting the 2027 presidential elections.”

It further stated that Saraki would wait for the emergence of the PDP candidate before making his position known.

“In the Channels interview, Dr Saraki also made it clear that he would wait to see who emerges as the PDP presidential candidate and come out with his endorsement. He made it clear that he believes that in 2031, there should be no ambiguity or doubt about the fact that it would be the turn of the North and only candidates from the North should contest for the presidential slot.”

The statement criticised the interpretation of Saraki’s comments.

“With the clear, unambiguous and deliberate explanations that Dr Saraki made in the Channels interview, it is only dubious for people like Olanrewaju to be putting a spin on his words. That only shows the desperation and dirty calculation of some politicians to misinterpret other people’s words to achieve their own unpatriotic and unpopular ambition.”