A media aide to former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, Umar Alkali, has said his principal has not withdrawn from the Gombe State governorship race.
He said the former minister only boycotted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary and remained in the contest.
Umar spoke with Saturday Punch, saying many people misunderstood Alkali’s decision to boycott the exercise.
According to him, the former minister took the decision after consultations, following what allegedly happened during earlier House of Representatives and senatorial primaries in the state.
“He is still in the race; he only boycotted the primaries. Given what happened during the previous House of Representatives and Senatorial primaries, after consultations, he deemed it fit to boycott the exercise,” he said.
The aide said it was wrong to claim that Alkali had pulled out of the governorship race.
“He is not withdrawing from the governorship race. This is what most people misunderstood. He is still in the race; he only boycotted the process,” he added.
Umar also dismissed speculation that the former minister was planning to leave the ruling party.
“No, he is not quitting the party. He is still in the APC,” he said.
He added that Alkali remained loyal to the leadership of the APC and the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.