AFR Business

As the 2023 presidential elections draw closer, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar of secretly meeting serving military generals in Abuja.

Wondering if Atiku’s alleged meeting with military generals is a coup d’etat, Fani-Kayode said the parley might have troubling implications on the presidential election.

The APC chieftain wondered what could be the agenda of such a meeting.

In a tweet, Fani-Kayode said such a meeting could disrupt the elections, destabilise the country, set Nigeria on fire, and incite chaos.

According to Fani-Kayode: “There are reports that @atiku had a secret meeting with serving military Generals in Abuja on Thursday. If true, it is troubling & has implications. What was the purpose?

“Why would a presidential candidate be having secret meetings with soldiers 14 days before the election?

“Is this meeting part of the wider agenda to disrupt the elections, destabilise the country, set us on fire, incite chaos and violence, provoke a coup d’etat and establish a new and unconstitutional order in our beloved country under the auspices of an ING?

“Knowing that he has no chance of winning the election, is Atiku now working with some members of the cabal, a handful of treacherous and unpatriotic technocrats at CBN and in the private sector and rogue elements in the ‘deep state’ to effect this demonic hidden agenda?”

The Armed Forces of Nigeria has condemned the allegation that some of its officers met with a presidential candidate over the 2023 election.

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode alleged that the Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and top military personnel met.

A rebuttal Saturday evening by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Acting Director Defence Information, denied the military was involved in a plan to disrupt the general polls.

The spokesperson said the “wicked and very malicious propaganda indicated that a so-called Thursday meeting plotted a Coup d’etat to establish unconstitutional order”.

The Armed Forces expressed dismay that “politically exposed persons can denigrate themselves into joining agents of destabilisation and violence in making false claims just to heighten tension in the polity”.

The director stated that the military is loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against democracy.

The Defence Headquarters maintains it remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in shenanigans.

“Those who engage in fabricating and spreading unfounded misinformation will be invited by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to substantiate their claims.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy."

The camps of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu on Saturday exchanged words over the Labour Party, LP, presidential rally in Lagos State.

LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s supporters embarked on a road walk from Lekki-Epe expressway to the Tafabalewa Square in Lagos.

The rally was said to have caused a massive traffic gridlock along the Lekki-Epe expressway.

Reacting, Tinubu-Shettima Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga accused Obi of conducting an uncivilized campaign.

In a tweet, Onanuga accused Obi of causing discomfort to the people of Lagos State.

Onanuga wrote: “Peter Obi and his supporters are doing a road walk in Lagos, causing massive traffic jam on the ever busy Lekki-Epe expressway.

“His rally is at TBS on the island. But he chose to cause discomfort to Lagosians. An uncivilized way to campaign in our city.”

However, Atiku’s spokesman, Phrank Shaibu wondered why Onanuga should complain about Obi’s rally.

Shaibu recounted how MC Oluomo prevented Christians from going to church when he had a walk for Tinubu on October 9, 2022.

He asked Onanuga if Atiku and Obi complained about MC Oluomo’s action.

“@officialABAT’s ailment appears communicable! Did #MC Oluomo not prevent #christian worshippers from going to church when he held a walk for Tinubu on Sunday October 9, 2022?

“Did the @atiku or @PeterObi supporters complain? @OfficialAPCN & Moslem/Moslem ticket,” he tweeted.