Akpabio not nursing ambition to contest 2027 presidential election with El-Rufai — Eyiboh

Eseme Eyiboh

Senate President Godswill Akpabio is not nursing any ambition of a joint presidential ticket with former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, or any other person in 2027, his spokesman Eseme Eyiboh has said.

Eyiboh stated this in a press release on Tuesday after posters of Akpabio and El-Rufai began circulating in some parts of Kaduna.

According to Eyiboh, it is the work of mischief makers who want to stir controversy among President Bola Tinubu’s loyalists.

“The attention of the office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to posters circulating in some parts of Kaduna associating the President of the Senate with a supposed El-Rufai 2027 political ambition,” the statement said.

“We want to state in very clear and unequivocal terms that Senator Godswill Akpabio does not have any intention to contest for president in 2027 nor is he nursing any ambition of a joint presidential ticket with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai or any other person by whatever name.

“This is the handiwork of mischief makers and familiar fifth columnists and those bent on opening up windows for tar brushing of the President’s loyalists. The action is spurious and mischievous.

“Senator Akpabio is presently preoccupied with the responsibility of collaborating and providing the required legislative support to President Bola Tinubu to reset Nigeria and make the nation regain its pride of place in the comity of nations. This is exactly what Senate President Akpabio, as the Chairman of the National Assembly has been doing since June 13, 2023; and has NEVER at any time contemplated running for President in 2027 or at any other time.

“It is therefore, embarrassing for anyone to link the person of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to an insipid presidential ambition, when a competent, trusted and tested leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is in the driving seat, effectively navigating the contours of purposeful leadership and adept governance with his renewed Hope Agenda.”

Eyiboh urged members of the public to disregard the posters which he said were intended to distract Nigerians from the “purposeful and positive interventions” of the Senate under Akpabio.

He also urged the authorities to investigate the promoters of “this ugly enterprise”.