The former spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Umar Sani, on Friday described Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as the Chairman of a one-man governor’s forum.

Sani made the remark against the backdrop of Makinde’s alliance with the Alliance Peoples Movement, APM.

Makinde, who had announced that a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in alliance with APM, also declared his presidential ambition under the platform.

However, Sani said Makinde has not officially announced his defection from the PDP to APM despite the alliance.

Featuring on TVC New’s FireWorks, Sani said: “Seyi Makinde is a important member of our party, PDP, and if he errs we can call him to order and as far as we are concerned, he has not made any categorical statement saying he has defected from the PDP to the APM.

“Bala Mohammed did,, but Makinde didn’t do that, if Makinde, who is not the Chairman of the one-man governor’s forum, makes a statement, we can’t come out to challenge him.

“If he enters into an alliance and he discusses it with the National Chairman and the National Chairman has not come out to dispute or discredit that alliance, it means that there is an understanding.”

Sani also noted that the National Working Committee, NWC, of PDP would decide Makinde’s fate over the alliance with APM.

“Makinde is a governor and he knows the implications, and I’m sure he would have discussed these things with the leadership of the party.

“If he didn’t discuss it will now be left for the national working committee to decide what actions to take and it’s not within my powers,” he added.

A former governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Farouk Mustapha, has debunked reports linking him to a purported vice-presidential nomination by the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde.

Mustapha, in a statement on Friday, described the reports circulating on social media as false, insisting that no discussion had taken place between him and the APM presidential candidate regarding such an arrangement.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to speculations making the rounds on social media alleging that the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement is considering me as his running mate in the forthcoming election.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state categorically that no such arrangement has been discussed with me, nor have I given my consent to any such proposition.”

The former governorship aspirant stated that he remained content with whatever position God had destined for him and had not held talks with anyone within the party concerning the vice-presidential slot.

“At no point have I had any discussion with anyone, whether within the APM or with its presidential candidate, regarding the position of running mate. Therefore, any claim suggesting that I have agreed to such an arrangement is entirely false and without foundation,” he said.

Mustapha explained that the clarification became necessary following enquiries from journalists, supporters and associates who had contacted him about the reports.

Citing a Hausa proverb, “Kowa ya san matar auren sa” (everyone knows his own bride), he said it was important to clear the air for the benefit of those concerned by the speculation.

He urged his supporters, friends, well-wishers and residents of Bauchi State to disregard the reports, describing them as mere rumours.

The politician further disclosed that he is currently in Saudi Arabia, where he is engaged in prayers and seeking divine guidance on his future political direction.

He thanked his supporters for their concern, support and prayers.

There was tension in Kofan Kaura, Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Friday as residents were seen burning the 2027 senatorial election posters of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The visibly angry residents also burnt flags of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and some bunches of brooms, a symbol of the party.

The short video of the incident was accompanied by the statement – “We reject rigging’, ‘We reject imposition.”

DAILY POST reports that Governor Sule reversed an earlier position where he vowed on national television not to seek any elective office after completing his tenure.

The governor, who is serving his second and final term, is vying for the Nasarawa North senatorial seat in next general elections.

He won the Nasarawa North APC senatorial primary election after polling 47,393 votes to defeat his rival, Silas Agara, who got a total of 2,915 votes.

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