Presidency to El-Rufai: We’re not aware of elements working against Tinubu

The Presidency has dismissed allegations that some persons within the Presidential Villa in Abuja are working against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, ahead of the 2023 general election.

The Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari would not deviate from his commitment to ensure the conduct of free, fair, and credible general election.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said this in reaction to claims by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that some government officials in the Presidential Villa are working against Tinubu.

El-Rufai made the allegations on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, on Wednesday, citing petroleum subsidy issue and the naira redesign policy targeted at the APC presidential flag-bearer.

“I believe there are elements in the Villa that want us to lose the elections because they didn’t get their way.

“They had their candidate and their candidate didn’t win the primaries; they are still trying to get us to lose the elections and they are hiding behind the president’s desire to do what he thinks is right.

READ ALSO: Tinubu: Aisha Buhari shares El-Rufai’s video on Villa saboteurs

”I will give two examples; this petroleum subsidy, which is costing the country trillions of naira, was something what we all agreed would be removed,” the governor had said.

Tinubu had made a similar allegation, accusing the opposition party, PDP, and other elements of hoarding fuel and new naira notes for political gains.

Reacting, Mohammed said it has not been brought officially to his notice if there are elements within the State House who are working against the victory of the ruling party.

The minister said Buhari, being the main occupant of the Villa, had stressed severally that his administration would deliver a credible electoral exercise in February and March.

He said: “On a more serious note, one thing I can assure you is that no matter what, this administration is focused, determined to ensure free and fair elections.

“But I think with this administration the most important person is Mr President, and I think he has shown by words and by deeds that he is committed to free, fair and credible election.

“And fair, free, credible elections actually means not favouring anybody or disadvantaging anybody.

“And everywhere he goes, he makes that very clear even as recently last Friday when he was in Daura, he said the same thing.

“If there’s anybody working against a candidate we don’t know officially.”

The Star