The Federal Government, on Wednesday, responded to an allegation by Governor Nasir el-Rufai that some elemnts in the Presidency were working against the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The Buhari government said it was not “officially aware” of any entity in the Presidential Villa working against him.
El-Rufai had, on Wednesday morning, linked the fuel scarcity raging in the country and hassles created by naira redesign to anti-Tinubu elements in Abuja.
But the FG said that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was neither favouring nor disfavouring any presidential candidate ahead of the February 25 election.
“If there’s anybody who is working against any candidate, we don’t know officially,” the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, told State House Correspondents after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
He added, “On a more serious note, one thing I can assure you is that, no matter who, this administration is focused and determined to ensure a free and fair election. And I think this administration, and for that matter now, the most important person in this regard is Mr. President.
“I think he has shown by words and deed that he is committed to a free, fair and credible election. And fair, free and credible elections mean not favouring or disfavouring anybody.
“Everywhere he goes, he makes that very clear, even as recently as Friday, when he was in Daura. He said the same thing. So if there’s anybody who’s working against any candidate, we don’t know officially.”
Speaking in Ogun State last Wednesday, the APC presidential candidate alleged plans to sabotage the coming election.
Tinubu cited the naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the lingering fuel crisis and as part of plots to thwart the polls and his expected victory.
