Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has refuted the claim made by ex-Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, about informing him (Saraki) before withdrawing for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2022 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held inside the velodrome of the National Stadium in, Abuja.
Naija News reports that Tambuwal had made the claim in an interview on the Arise TV programme titled ‘Untold Stories With Adesuwa’.
However, in a statement by his Media Office signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki stated that Tambuwal never informed him that he would withdraw for Atiku.
Saraki said Tambuwal took him by surprise at the PDP presidential convention when he returned to the podium to announce his withdrawal after he had addressed the delegates seeking their votes to fly the PDP presidential flag in the 2023 general elections.
He added that Tambuwal should take responsibility for his decision and actions, noting that he had nothing to do with the former Governor’s withdrawal for Atiku.
The statement reads: “I need to set the record straight. When I saw Tambuwal returning to the podium after he had earlier addressed the delegates to canvass for their votes, I wondered what was happening. His announcement that he had withdrawn from the race and that the delegates who were supporting him should vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar took me by surprise.
“Tambuwal is my friend but he should take responsibility for his decisions and actions. He never discussed withdrawal from the race with me. I never contemplated withdrawing my candidature from the race and had nothing to do with the decision process that led to his withdrawal in favour of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”