Presidency Orders Abubakar Audu to Remove Buhari Pictures From his Campaign Materials

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday called for the removal of his pictures from all the campaign and promotional materials of the APC Kogi Governorship candidate, Prince Audu Abubakar.

As Presidency Orders Abubakar Audu to Remove Buhari Pictures From his Campaign Materials It was not clear why the president gave such directive but it would not be unconnected to the recent meeting with the APC stakeholders where the president backed out of the National campaign committee of Prince Abubakar Audu based on the integrity of the candidate and his unconvinced answer to the allegation of 11 billion naira by the EFCC.

In a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, he said “The attention of the president has been drawn to the pictures and news flying around that President Muhammadu Buhari has adopted the candidature of Prince Audu Abubakar. Let it be known that the President has not endorsed the candidature of both the APC Bayelsa and Kogi candidates; he is yet to do the official endorsement pending when all the conditions of His Excellency are met.

“His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari has therefore ordered the removal of his pictures from the campaign materials of Prince Audu Abubakar and has directed the Director General Prince Audu Abubakar Campaign Organization to comply with this directive effective immediately,” the statement stated.

It would be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was said to head the National Campaign Committee for the coming Kogi governorship election for APC but he opted out at the last minute of the inauguration of the committee in Abuja.

A source close to the presidency confirmed that the Vice President opted out on the directive of Mr. President.

“The Presidency wants to distance itself from the candidature of Prince Audu Abubakar for the mean time till they are fully convinced” said Alhaji Jibrin Mahmud, a source close to the presidency.

The APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, therefore appointed Governor Abubakar Bello off Niger State as the chairman of the campaign committee to replace the Vice President.

Prince Audu Abubakar is a Kogi governorship candidate on the platform of APC and he was a former governor of Kogi state from 1999-2003.

He was indicted by the EFCC and has been arraigned for embezzlement of public funds in the tune of 11 billion Nigerian Naira. He has since given some answers and has denied the allegation by the EFCC.