The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has debunked the viral news report that it had endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar describing it as a blatant falsehood.
Alhaji Seidu Baba who is a strong member of the forum while addressing the press in Abuja on Saturday, said the former vice president cannot be their consensus candidate.
According to him, the PDP candidate has not been fair to the Northerners to deserve their endorsement.
He pointed out that, although, Atiku has been scheming to be endorsed as the sole candidate of the North, NEF has not endorsed him.
Baba said: ‘There was an attempt to cajole and even force the NEF to adopt him (Atiku), shows how desperate he is.’
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‘Many people believe, though the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-rufai, was condemning Northern elders, it is believed, his real target was Atiku Abubakar.
‘There is no way Atiku can be a Northern candidate, because he does not know them and we do not know him.
‘It is believes Atiku got wind of his rejection the reason he failed to show up at the NEF Assembly and could not send any representative.
‘Atiku has not been seen as somebody who is closed to the North, because he has not been fair to us.’
Meanwhile, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has asserted that the G5 or Integrity Group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not running out of steam, adding that the group will act out its plan in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
He spoke on Tuesday during the party’s governorship campaign in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.
‘They said G5 is dead. What is their problem? Why are they concerned?’ Wike queried as he addressed PDP supporters decked up in party paraphernalia.