Atiku refuses to state timeline over intent to run for 2023 Presidency

Despite a plethora of politicians declaring their intention to contest for the 2023 Presidency, a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has remained non-committal over his ambition.

According to Atiku, he will issue a public statement about his ambition “at the appropriate time”; while speaking to pressmen on Tuesday, February 1, after a visit to a former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd.

NRTC had gathered that the meeting lasted for about an hour and was held behind closed doors.

This is the latest in a series of visits and consultations to Babangida; after the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu paid an earlier visit to the former General. 

On the purpose of his visit, Atiku clarified that he came on a courtesy visit to the State Governor Abubakar Bello over the incessant terrorism bedevilling the state.

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“I only came on a courtesy visit to the governor and to commiserate with him and people of the state over the incessant banditry in Niger state; just discussed with the governor on the insecurity in the state and from what I heard; it is a very serious and pathetic situation and it is most unfortunate.

“I have only come on a visit; I will let you know about my presidential ambition at the appropriate time,” Atiku said.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has debunked insinuations about him being the running mate to Atiku in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the governor, no such agreement has been reached between him and any politician.

“Please discountenance anything you’re seeing about being VP to this and that. Discountenance all those social media talk,” he said on Tuesday at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The meeting had in attendance, party executives, national and state assembly members, LG chairmen, cabinet members; and other high-ranking members of the party.

The Governor’s comments also come a day after it had been reported on some platforms; that Atiku was planning to pick him as a running mate ahead of the 2023 elections.

But according to Wike, members of the party in the southern region will speak in one voice; and at the appropriate time, about their decision on the forthcoming election.