… As Presidency Denies Report
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday he does not know
if he will seek re-election in 2019 and the decision is personal and
also for Nigerians.
Reuters quoted Buhari as saying this during a radio interview.
Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria’s minister of
communications who played a prominent role in Buhari’s 2015 campaign,
has said he would chair a group to support the re-election of the
president and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
communications who played a prominent role in Buhari’s 2015 campaign,
has said he would chair a group to support the re-election of the
president and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Such campaigns by supporters often pave the way in Nigeria for a president to declare his intention to run again.
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Analysts
say the fact that Shittu has discussed campaign arrangements with
Buhari and then made it public is a sign that he may have given his
approval.
say the fact that Shittu has discussed campaign arrangements with
Buhari and then made it public is a sign that he may have given his
approval.
Nigeria will hold presidential elections on Feb. 16,
2019 and parties have between Aug. 18 and Oct. 7 this year to select
their candidates.
2019 and parties have between Aug. 18 and Oct. 7 this year to select
their candidates.
In a swift reaction, the presidency however denied the report that Mr Buhari granted an interview for a radio station.
This is contained in a statement by his personal assistant on new media, Bashir Ahmad which he posted on his twitter account.
“This report from @Reuters is NOT true, President @MBuhari
didn’t grant any radio interview where he talked about 2019 election,
for Mr. President, it’s too early to start talking about next year
elections when there are so many important and pressing issues on his
desk,” the statement read.