Former Vice President Atiku has dissociated himself from the arrangement that produced former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed, as consensus candidates, saying that that he was “never a party to Northern Consensus Arrangement.”

Atiku through the Technical Committee for the actualization of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidency in 2023 led by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said the aspirants who presented themselves for the exercise were Gov Aminu Tambuwal, Gov Bala Mohammed, Dr Bukola Saraki and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

The Committee said Atiku was “never a part of this purported consensus arrangement and did not subject himself to this process.

“Therefore, he is Not bound by any of the recommendations and conclusions of the purported report.”

The committee said the clarification became necessary because they have been inundated with several calls and text messages from concerned party members, supporters and other critical stakeholders on the purported report of Consensus efforts amongst four Northern Aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party by Prof Ango Abdullahi, released at a press conference in Minna on Friday.

“The report clearly stated that Atiku Abubakar as a nationalist strongly believes that Nigeria has never been so divided as it is today, and any regional, zonal, ethno-religious gang up or consensus driven in this manner will further deepen and widen the wounds that urgently require to be healed.”

They said Atiku is anxious to implement plans, policies and programmes that will rescue and rebuild Nigeria.