The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has denied endorsing his counterpart in the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for presidency in 2023.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Kwankwaso during an interview with Arise TV on Sunday said if he perceives he cannot win the 2023 election, he will recommend Tinubu.
However, according to a statement by his campaign organisation and signed by Muyi Fatosa, the claim that Kwankwaso “recommended” Tinubu for the nation’s top job is false.
Fatosa said the ex-Defence Minister “is still fully in the presidential race and not distracted by the misleading report”.
He noted that some people didn’t understand Kwankwaso’s comment during his Sunday interview with Arise News.
The aide quoted Kwankwaso saying: “Bola Tinubu is my friend of many years, if I had not contested, I would have recommended him.
“I do not play politics of bitterness. We are both in the presidential race but I am a better candidate.”
Fatosa expressed disappointment on how the statement was misconstrued to mean an endorsement of Tinubu.
“Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has not in any way endorsed Bola Tinubu and urged the public to always verify the authenticity of whatever they see on the media”, he advised.
The campaign said consultations by the former Senator across all the States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been positive.
“Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is still the candidate to beat in the 2023 presidential election”, the statement added.