Why Saraki will not contest against Buhari in 2019

Senate President Bukola Saraki will not run against President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election, his chief of staff has said.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said as long as Buhari seeks re-election, “Saraki will not contest”.

He was speaking on a weekly Hausa Programme aired on DITV/Alheri Radio monitored in Kaduna on Saturday, monitored by Sunday Trust.

Baba-Ahmed said: “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.

“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.”

He said he was not aware if Buhari will seek re-election.