I remain committed to APC, says Atiku

Nigeria’s former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated his commitment to the success of his party in the coming general elections in the country.

Atiku, who contested for the party’s presidential ticket but lost to the party’s candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, also emphasized that he is still a member of the party and has never contemplated leaving the political group.

The statement from his media office is in response to speculation that the former Vice President may have been planning to dump the party after the primary election. The speculation was fuelled by Atiku’s seeming absence from public political events organized by his party so far.

But the Vice President said his commitment is unwavering.

“I remain irrevocably committed to the APC, as I promised in my concession speech at the conclusion of our party’s presidential primaries, and has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of our great party at the general elections,” the former Vice President said.

A statement by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, said that reports of the Turaki Adamawa’s purported return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or any other party is the handiwork of mischief makers focused on pitching the former Vice President against other leaders of the opposition party.

Atikthe statement quoted Atiku as saying he is unequivocally committed to the unity of the APC and that it will take more than the antics of mischief makers to break that bond between him and the party.

Atiku noted that his return from Adamawa, Nigeria where he convened a stakeholders’ meeting and reconciled disagreeing camps within the party, towards ensuring victory for the APC bears eloquent testimony of this commitment.

The statement further reminded that the former Vice President currently supports the financial operations of the APC in many states, in most cases as a sole financier.

“I have backed my words and commitment with my resources to ensure that I bring my influence and support to bear on our party’s march to victory at all levels in the general election.

“That should be enough to shut up mischief makers bent on derailing the APC’s success at the March 28 and April elections,” he said.

The Atiku Media Office observed that as one of Nigeria’s astute politicians and businessmen, there may be overtures from across political divides to the former Vice President, but restated that Atiku Abubakar has publicly stated his commitment to the APC and has privately rebuffed the approaches from all quarters.