The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has disclaimed reports that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will meet today to discuss statements credited to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, as regards the 2019 presidential election.
In a chat with newsmen on Sunday, Mallam Abdullahi said the party’s NWC was not convening any such meeting on Monday to discuss these particular issues.
“It is completely false. There is no such meeting scheduled for Monday or at any time to discuss Senator Alhassan’s endorsement of Atiku or any comments credited to Atiku”, Abdullahi said.
Saturday PUNCH had reported on Friday that besides discussing the minister’s declaration of support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, the NWC would also deliberate on a statement credited to the ex-vice-president.
Alhassan had, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, said she was ready to support the former vice-president against President Muhammadu Buhari if they both choose to run for the 2019 presidential election.
She also said she respected Buhari, but Atiku remained her godfather.
Alhassan, in the interview, also confirmed her statements in a leaked video, where she endorsed the former vice-president in a private meeting with him.
The former vice-president, had on the Hausa Service of Voice of America, said that the APC sidelined him after helping it to win the 2015 elections.
