The media office of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has firmly denied claims that he has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, describing the allegation as misleading and a distortion of his comments.
The controversy began after Demola Olarewaju, a Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, suggested on X that Saraki’s recent remarks amounted to indirect support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Olarewaju based his claim on Saraki’s appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where the former Kwara State governor spoke about political alliances and zoning.
During the interview, Saraki dismissed suggestions that his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, signaled support for the current administration. He explained that their engagement was rooted in efforts to strengthen the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not to endorse any candidate.
He also stated that allowing the South to complete an eight-year presidential tenure was, in his view, fair—given that Nigerians elected Tinubu, a southerner, in 2023.
Reacting to Olarewaju’s interpretation, Saraki’s media office, in a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the claim as “mischievous” and a clear misreading of a straightforward statement.
The statement stressed that Saraki does not make political decisions covertly and would openly declare his preferred candidate when the time comes. It added that he has consistently been transparent about his political stance, regardless of the consequences.
The media office further noted that Saraki had previously supported the PDP’s decision to zone its presidential ticket to the South, pointing out that Tinubu is not the only southern politician likely to contest the 2027 election.
It also reiterated Saraki’s position that the party’s candidate would emerge through due process, after which he would make his endorsement known. He equally maintained that by 2031, the presidency should return to the North, leaving no room for ambiguity on zoning.
The statement concluded by accusing some political actors of deliberately twisting Saraki’s remarks to serve their own interests, describing such actions as desperate and unpatriotic.
