Immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Wednesday, denied nursing a presidential ambition in 2019, blaming those he called “mischief makers”, for the rumor.
Mr. Akpabio, who spoke through a statement from his media aide, Anietie Ekong, distanced himself from a campaign poster being circulated on the social media, which requested Nigerians to support him for president.
The Senate minority leader, who represents Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district, is one of the most influential leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the country.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to state categorically that Senator Akpabio has no ambition of contesting for the Presidency in 2019 and is not behind such campaigns. It is the handiwork of mischief makers.
“It is instructive that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he belongs to has zoned the Presidency to the North by 2019. The South-South has had its shot at the Presidency through Dr Goodluck Jonathan who handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari barely one year ago.
“It is politically impracticable in the present Nigeria to expect another South-South man to aspire to succeed President Buhari”.
Mr. Akpabio said, for now, he was concerned with working with other senators to make laws that will improve the living condition of Nigerians.
