Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has rubbished reports in certain quarters claiming he has dropped out of the 2023 presidential race.
He also debunked reports that he has opted to contest for a senatorial seat after dropping his presidential ambition.
Governor Bello in a statement on Friday by his campaign team, Hope ’23 Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation said those behind the rumours are aspirants scared of his growing popularity and acceptability among Nigerians.
The statement made available to Tracknews by the Director, Media and Publicity of the campaign organization, Yemi Kolapo urged the supporters of Bello to ignore such reports, claiming the Kogi Governor is very much in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
She said, “As we stand today in the build-up to the All Progressives Congress’ primary elections, our Principal, Governor Yahaya Bello’s popularity, among critical stakeholders, party members in general, and Nigerians as a whole, is unparalleled.
“Who among the aspirants has an office address? Let them come and visit the headquarters of the Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Office and see that we are ready to move to Aso Rock after our father, President Buhari. Governor Bello bought Senate form? A lie from the pit of hell.
“Our consultations across all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, have shown that the next election will only favour a man of the people. Our highly experienced and noble party leaders know that the only consideration is about winning election and will field the right candidate that will enable the party to retain power. That candidate is Governor Yahaya Bello.
The statement boasted that half of the APC delegates are loyal to the cause of Governor Bello and his victory at the party primaries is assured.
“We can say, conservatively, that more than half of APC delegates are with us. The people have decided to vote their conscience and are yearning for a loyal leader with the capacity to build on the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari and take Nigeria to the desired destination.
“It is disheartening that some people can still resort to this kind of intellectually deficit strategy to make themselves relevant in an arena where they definitely have no seats.
“We know the sponsors of this report and urge them with every sense of decency to retrace their steps and work on picking the pieces of their fast crumbling political bricks instead of engaging in petty, outdated “pull them down” gimmicks.
“I want to assure Nigerians and the teeming supporters of Governor Yahaya Bello – the youths, women, people with special needs, and indeed all Nigerians, at home and abroad, that if there will be one individual left in the presidential race, that individual would be our Principal, Governor Yahaya Bello.”
