Kogi Guber. PDP Primary: I Have No Anointed Governorship Aspirant- Atiku, Seeks Level Playing Ground For Every Aspirant 

The former Vice President and the Presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, in the last February presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has distanced himself from the purported anoited governorship aspirant in the Kogi State governorship race.

According to Turaki of Adamawa, he doesn't support any individual or candidates in the forthcoming PDP primary in the Kogi State governorship race adding that he wants a level playing ground for all the aspirants in the primary.

The Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, in a statement on Tuesday, in Abuja, explained that the purported reports of the former Vice president having anoited candidate, as being circulated in the media, insinuating his involvement in the democratic process of electing the gubernatorial flag bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party in the upcoming Kogi State governorship, was not only the true reflection of his democratic ethos, but false and gross fabrications.

He said Atiku said in the Kogi PDP governorship primary election, he has no "anointed aspirant", but urged for level playing field to all the aspirants in the PDP primaries. 

"The attention of the former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has been drawn to several media reports insinuating his involvement in the democratic process of electing the gubernatorial flag bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party in the upcoming Kogi State governorship election.

"We wish to state categorically that such media reports are false and gross fabrication.

"Atiku is a consummate democrat and the hallmark of his political struggles has been for the enablement of internal democracy in party politics." The statement said.

According to him, it was absurd to suggest that Atiku has a preferred candidate in the primary election to produce the governorship candidate of the PDP in the Kogi State election or in any primary election, for that matter.

"For the avoidance of any doubts, Atiku Abubakar has no anointed candidate in the Kogi State primary election. 

"He believes that the decision to elect the flag bearer of the PDP in the coming election in the Confluence State is the responsibility of electors in that primary election.

"He therefore urges anyone amongst the candidates to desist from peddling influence with his name and, indeed, calls on the media not to lay prostrate to any blackmail against him.

"Atiku believes that all the aspirants in the election are up to the task of flying the flag of our great party, the PDP and the electors should be given the unfettered rights to perform their constituted duty of electing the best person for the PDP." The statement read.