By ISMAILA CHAFE

President Muhammadu Buhari says he remains a “disciplined soldier” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and will, in all the coming elections, support only those candidates fielded by the party and no other.

The president made his position known in a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Nigerian leader also warned decamped party members and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own and nobody outside the party should link what they are doing to him

The statement read in part: “The Presidency wishes to put it on record, and at the same time, reassure faithful party members that President Muhammadu Buhari remains a ‘disciplined soldier’ of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“And will, in all the coming elections, support only those candidates fielded by the party and no other.

“This is a warning to decamped party members and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own and nobody outside the party tent should link what they are doing to President Buhari.

“The President wishes to be quoted as saying that he is the ‘occupant of the high office of the President by the Grace of God who used the instrumentality of the APC to bring him to power with a historic verdict in 2015’.

“In 2019, he was returned with a bigger majority. For the first time, a non-PDP government came to power with a huge majority after 16 years of the Fourth Republic.

“His constant refrain is: ‘I will not betray or undermine my party by supporting candidates other than those of the APC’.

According to the presidential aide, this statement is not against any particular candidate.

“However, our stand is clear that only those candidates fielded by the APC will enjoy the support of the President and they are the ones he will campaign for.

“However, we welcome support for our candidates at all levels by other parties.

“The President says he will continue to support the party at all levels to enforce discipline, synchronization and coordination.”

Shehu quoted the president as directing officials in and around the Presidential Villa and all those engaging in loose talk to resist making controversial statements.

He said such statements may eventually end up hurting the party and the government, thereby providing a weapon for the opposition to use against the administration, the party or its candidates in the coming elections. (NAN)

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