The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has distanced itself from allegations of endorsing former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Governor of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as the consensus presidential candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) saying such endorsement has nothing to do with the Forum, IgbereTV reports
In a statement on Sunday to clear the air in the purported endorsement, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Director, Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, said the group is not affiliated to any political party and that the entire process to produce consensus for the PDP candidates did not involve the Forum in anyway.
“It has become necessary to address the impression created in part by mischief and in part by genuine confusion over the role of the convener of Northern Elders Forum, in the efforts to create consensus among four aspirants for the Presidential ticket of the PDP.
“The idea to attempt to engineer a consensus among the aspirants was that of the aspirants themselves, Governors Aminu W Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed, former Senate President A.B.Saraki and Malam Mohammed Hayatudeen, who had informed Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida of their intention, and requested elderly intervention and advice in the event that their efforts failed to produce consensus
