The Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to speculations regarding the whereabouts of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The party on Tuesday said Atiku had travelled to Europe on business.
A statement issued by Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku on Tuesday night, said the “former Vice President travelled last night on a scheduled trip to meet with the technical partners of one his business entity that was impacted by the Covid-19 global lockdown and the consequent economic downturn”.
“The meeting will also focus on conclusive discussions for a planned expansion of its production facility,” the statement added.
There have been speculations from some quarters, including from members of the opposition, that Atiku had travelled to France for medical treatment.
For instance, the Director of New Media of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, earlier in a series of tweets, said Atiku slumped in Abuja after arriving from Kaduna where he held his campaign on Monday.
He added that as a result, the PDP presidential candidate had been taken to Paris, France for proper medical attention.
“After his outing in Kaduna yesterday @atiku fell ill. He complained of dizzy spells& severe pains in his head& all over his body throughout the flight to Abuja. After landing at Abuja airport he collapsed. He was flown to Paris for medical attention immediately. God be with him.
“For the purposes of damage control they took pictures of him with others the following morning from Paris but please do not be fooled. There is something very wrong with the PDP pres. candidate in terms of his health & they don’t want the Nigerian public to know. Pray for him,” he tweeted.
But when SaharaReporters called the spokesperson for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba to seek his reaction and clarification on the claim, he denied it but did not state Atiku’s whereabouts.
He said, “I don’t have any comment on that. Fani-Kayode. Is he a doctor, was he there? Why can’t we just focus on what is more important? Does that make any sense at all?
“Fani-Kayode said somebody is collapsing, that is not correct. You know that is a lie now. This is a man who went on a campaign yesterday and has schedules. On the 27th, he will be in the UK for the Commonwealth.
“I have told you; it (Atiku’s UK trip) is scheduled for next week. Of course, it (what Fani Kayode said) is a lie. It is a complete lie.”
But when he asked if Atiku was still in Nigeria at the time, he said, “Don’t quote what I didn’t say. I didn’t tell you he is in Nigeria. I said that statement (Fani-Kayode’s claim) is a lie. It is an irresponsible statement. Atiku Abubakar had a very successful campaign in Kaduna.”
