The Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki has said his principal, out of respect, will not contest against President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said because Saraki “sees and respects him as a father”, the Senate President will not run against Buhari.
“There is no way Senator Bukola Saraki will contest for president in 2019 as long as President Buhari will contest. This I know very well because I work with him and I should know that,” Baba-Ahmed was quoted as telling DITV/Alheri Radio on Saturday in Kaduna.
“But if President Buhari says he will not re-contest the position, that is a different case. The Senate President will not contest against President Buhari because he sees and respects him as a father.
“The same thing happened in 2011 and 2015 if you remember. Saraki declined to contest against him; instead, he joined others to work for the success of the president in the 2015 elections,” said the Senate President’s Chief of Staff.