Atiku: I am not leaving APC for PDP or any other party

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reiterated his commitment to the party and the success of its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, and other candidates of the party in the 2015 general election.

Responding to media reports on his purported return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku said he remained unwavering and his allegiance to APC was never up for bargaining.

“I remain irrevocably committed to the APC, as I promised in my concession speech at the conclusion of our party’s presidential primaries, and I have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the victory of Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of our great party at the general election,” he said.

A statement by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday said that reports of Atiku’s “purported return” to the PDP or any other party were the handiwork of mischief makers focused on pitting the former vice-president against other leaders of the opposition party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am unequivocally committed to the unity of APC and that it would take more than the antics of mischief makers to break that bond,” Atiku said.

“My return from Adamawa, where I convened a stakeholders’ meeting and reconciled disagreeing camps within the party, towards ensuring victory for the APC, bear eloquent testimony of his commitment.”

The statement emphasised that the former vice-president currently supports the financial operations of the APC in many states, in most cases as a sole financier.

“I have backed my words and commitment with my resources to ensure that I bring my influence and support to bear on our party’s march to victory at all levels in the general election,” he said.

“That should be enough to shut up mischief makers bent on derailing the APC’s success at the March 28 and April elections.”

His media office observed that “as one of Nigeria’s astute politicians and businessmen, there might be overtures from across political divides” to the former vice-president, but he had “publicly stated his commitment to the APC and had privately rebuffed the approaches from all quarters”.