The leadership of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has disassociated self from the endorsement of Alhaji Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed as presidential consensus candidates for the Northern People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
A statement by the Director, Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the entire process to produce the consensus candidates did not involve the Forum.
The statement reads: “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 had informed Badamasi Babangida of their intention, and requested elderly intervention and advise in the event that their efforts failed to produce consensus.
“President Babangida in turn requested Professor Ango Abdullahi in his individual capacity to design and manage a process that could improve a consensus agreement among the four aspirants.
