Ex-VP Atiku committed to APC candidate Buhari’s victory, says Fayemi

Fayemi

Former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi has assured Nigerians that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains committed to the victory of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Fayemi said the rumoured plan of Atiku returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a gimmick from the ruling party to confuse Nigerians and cause division in the APC.

He described Atiku as an important pillar of support for the Buhari campaign, whose preoccupation is to ensure victory for the APC and Buhari at the presidential polls.

Fayemi, who spoke while featuring on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, monitored in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said entreaties made to Atiku by emissaries of President Goodluck Jonathan for a return to the PDP failed.

The former governor said the APC was prepared for victory and won’t be distracted by the antics of the PDP, which, he said, was gripped by the fear of losing the Presidency for the first time in 16 years.

Fayemi declared that Buhari campaign was on course, stressing that any attempt to cause disaffection within the fold of the APC by sponsoring phantom defection to the PDP won’t work.

He said: “Anybody can just pick some people in the street and call them members of Turaki’s group. Though, I am aware of the surreptitious plans to divide us, but wooing Atiku back to PDP will not certainly work because he is committed to this project.

“So, Atiku is still in APC and he has come out boldly to denounce this group. It was a fact that he offered himself to be president, but the delegates acted otherwise by voting for Gen Buhari.

“I don’t foresee that he will walk away from APC on the basis of this because there is nothing on ground to make him do that. He has remained consistent for Gen. Buhari and he is committed to APC”.

Fayemi added that Nigerians would query President Jonathan, if he sacks Prof. Jega at this critical time, saying such attempt could bring suspicion that would do the country no good.

On the mock accreditation conducted by INEC in 12 states to test-run the workability of the Card Reader, Fayemi advised the commission to block all loopholes based on the reservations expressed by some critical stakeholders for the outcome of the elections to be acceptable.

The former governor, however, hoped that the Card Reader would turn out to be a blessing in view of the success recorded in Lagos, which he said was known to be densely populated.