2027: Gov Diri denies plot of deputize Atiku in 2027 elections

By Jude Opara

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri yesterday, shut down the call on former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, to pick him as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
It was gathered that a group under the auspices of Diri Angels, DA, called on a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to consider the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri as his Vice-Presidential candidate in 2027.
DA, had in a statement signed on Tuesday by its Secretary, John Ondowari, said there was no doubt that Atiku would still emerge as the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2027, and the only way to realise his ambition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to adopt Governor Diri as his running mate in 2027.
But, Diri in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, described the group as a faceless group, which sarcastically named itself Diri Angels and one he believes is non-existent.
He maintained that they intended to cause disaffection in some quarters and that the plot had failed.
Governor Diri described the suggestion as a Greek gift from political jobbers, which should be completely disregarded.
He emphatically stated that God had always guided him on his political journey and that he was not swayed by any advocacy that was inconsistent with his godly and political principles.
Diri assured of his commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Bayelsa State based on the mandate they first gave him in 2019 and re-affirmed on November 11, 2023.
He urged people of the state not to worry about the antics of political buccaneers whose intention was to cause confusion in an attempt to distract him.
“I am not swayed by such calls. In my political journey, I have always relied on God and not on political jobbers with devious intentions.
“The aim of those behind this act is to cause dis-affection but the plot is dead on arrival as I’m not interested in such a Greek gift.
“I remain committed to the mandate given to me by the Bayelsa people and I’m single-mindedly focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to them. My administration will not be distracted by those who do not mean well for our state.