The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports that it is responsible for the inability of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to use the Eagle Square in Abuja for his presidential declaration on Wednesday.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano recently defected from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has expressed interest to run for the 2019 presidential race under its platform.
Recall that the management of Eagles Square on Tuesday wrote Kwankwaso to inform him of their decision to revoke an initial approval granting the venue for his presidential declaration slated for Wednesday.
However, the approval was initially granted and payment made before the controversial revocation.
Kwankwaso, consequently moved his formal declaration to the Chida hotel in Abuja.
In a statement signed by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja on Wednesday, the APC described attempts to link the party to the development as mischievous.
The statement read, “We frown on mischievous attempts in some quarters to blame the All Progressives Congress for the inability of a Peoples Democratic Party presidential contestant to secure the Eagle Square for his declaration.
“The party read in the media reasons given by the facility managers of the Abuja International Conference Centre and Eagle Square not to allow campaigns on its facility on Wednesday to avoid disruption of work flow at the federal secretariat, the main hub of civil servants in Abuja.
“Hence the allegation is unnecessary and misplaced. We should not be dragged into a private transaction involving entities we have no business with.”
It added, “In any case, the 2019 elections will not be won by cheap campaign ground antics but actual votes from the Nigerian electorate who are wise and know who is working in their interest.
“Never again will we return governance of our dear country to the hands of those that selfishly have held us back for years.”