Confusion As Tambuwal Rejects Northern PDP Consensus, Fingers Saraki For Spreading False Message

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has rejected the endorsement of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Northern consensus candidates.

Recall that speaking in Minna, the capital of Niger State, after a meeting with former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, Northern Elders Forum spokesperson, Ango Abdullahi stated that the decision to select Saraki and Bala was arrived at after they scaled the criteria for selection.

According to him, these criteria included candidates assessment, zonal assessment, and PDP previous experiences.

Speaking through the Tambuwal Campaign Organization, TCO, Director of Mobilization, Nicholas Msheliza, Tambuwal accused Saraki of being behind the purported endorsement.

While stating the endorsement was not the true reflection of their recent meeting, the Governor said they had agreed that the issue of a consensus arrangement was not working.

He also explained how Saraki circulated messages on the emergence of Northern consensus candidates.

The statement reads: “The attention of Tambuwal Campaign Organisation (TCO) has been drawn to a news item that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state have emerged as consensus candidates from amongst the four of us announced at a meeting in Minna, Niger state.

“This is, to be candid and forthright, not correct. The correct situation is that the team met on Wednesday, 20th April, 2022, at Bauchi Governor’s lodge in Abuja and had a review meeting; and, unanimously agreed that the consensus arrangement was not working.

“The team further agreed that Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to communicate this decision to the Nigerian public. This was the last time that members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything. The proposed meeting to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted unilaterally by Saraki via a WhatsApp message.

“However, on Thursday, April 21st, 2022, same Saraki circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday. Tambuwal reached other members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the team that the initiative is not working.”

Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, stated that he would present himself before the PDP’s Presidential screening committee and participate in its Presidential primaries.

He stated that the meeting in Minna with Ibrahim Babangida has no consequence or any implication on his aspiration.

“Members of the public should be reminded that what was canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates. For the avoidance of doubt, Tambuwal has submitted his presidential nomination forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP presidential primary,” he said.

Governor Tambuwal, Governor Bala Mohammed, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen had criss-crossed the country hoping to pick a consensus candidate amongst themselves ahead of the PDP presidential primaries.

This article was originally published on Nigeria News