The media office of Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President, has officially denied any claims that he has endorsed any candidate for the forthcoming 2027 presidential election.
The office described such interpretations as "mischievous" and misleading.
This clarification was prompted by remarks made by Demola Olanrewaju, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who suggested that Saraki's recent comments on power rotation indicated indirect support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's bid for a second term.
In a statement released in Abuja, Yusuph Olaniyonu, representing the Saraki Media Office, rejected these claims and asserted that Saraki's position was clearly articulated.
Olaniyonu indicated that it was erroneous to interpret Saraki’s assertion that the South should be permitted to complete an eight-year tenure as an endorsement for any specific individual.
He criticized the assertion as a distortion, emphasizing that Saraki does not engage in ambiguous or indirect political messaging.
According to him, Saraki explicitly stated during an interview on Channels Television that when the time arrives to support a candidate, it would be done openly and without ambiguity.
"He is not a person who will convey one message in the daytime and another under cover of night. He does not communicate in coded language," he stressed, reiterating that Saraki has consistently stood by his principles, irrespective of the political fallout.
The media office further reminded that Saraki's stance on zoning is not a new development, recalling how he was instrumental among key PDP stakeholders in deciding to zone the party's 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
It emphasized that this stance should not be misinterpreted as backing any particular candidate, highlighting the numerous potential aspirants from the southern region.
The statement also reiterated that Saraki would wait for the PDP to conclude its internal processes and announce a candidate before revealing his position.
Saraki believes that by the year 2031, the presidency should revert to the North, leaving no uncertainty regarding the region's turn to hold the office at that future date.
He argued that political figures have purposely misinterpreted Saraki’s comments to advance their personal agendas, cautioning against what he termed efforts to sow confusion among opposition ranks.
These misinterpretations were categorized as expressions of "desperation" and deliberate attempts to sway public opinion for political leverage.
The clarification arrives in the context of increasing political maneuvering in anticipation of the 2027 elections, amidst ongoing discussions about zoning and successions shaping alliances within major political parties.
As a former governor of Kwara State and a significant member of the PDP, Saraki remains a key figure whose opinions are likely to influence the party's strategy heading into the next electoral season.
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