The presidential candidate of Action Alliance (AA), retired Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, says he never stepped down nor adopted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the Saturday election.
Vanguard reports that Al-Mustapha made this known while appearing on a human rights radio station in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the insinuation that he had stepped down to back Abubakar was untrue.
He described the statement credited to the factional chairman of AA, Mr. Kenneth Udeze, through whom he emerged as a candidate, as “a scam.”
“The announcement by someone (Udeze) that Action Alliance is supporting Atiku was a scam.
“Action Alliance has not endorsed any candidate. I am still in the race, and if I am going to lose, I will lose pretty well, and if I am going to win, I will win pretty well,” he said.
Al-Mustapha, who is a factional presidential candidate of AA recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said he had not discussed with anyone his withdrawal or the adoption of any other candidate.
He urged Nigerians to disregard such comments.
The party is currently divided into two factions with two presidential candidates.
While Mr. Solomon-David Akanigbuan emerged as the presidential candidate of the Dr. Adekunle Omo-Aje-led leadership of AA, Mr. Al-Mustapha was elected as the presidential candidate of the Udeze-led leadership of the party.
However, a number of court judgments and rulings recognized Omo-Aje as the valid chairman of the party to submit names of candidates to INEC while affirming the expulsion of Udeze from the party.
