A former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dispelled rumours making the rounds that he defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alongside some lawmakers.
Mr Kwankwaso, who is now a senator, said it was a “malicious story” planted in newspapers and online platforms to tarnish his image.
Speaking to DAILY NIGERIAN on Tuesday morning, Aminu Abdussalam, the chief of staff to the senator, said the story was “malicious and totally unfounded.”
According to him, the senator and his supporters had not at any time contemplated leaving the party.
He said the story was planted by the Kano State government to cause disaffection among their supporters after the national leadership of the APC recognised the leadership of Umar Doguwa as the legitimate chairman of the party in the state.
“We have not at any time contemplated leaving the APC. We were surprised and deeply appalled when we read the story.
“The story was planted by Kano State government and some political opponents who are threatened by the mass followership Senator Kwankwaso enjoys nationwide.
“Kano State government was the one that planted the same story last year, and its agents are still the same characters spreading the false story.
“They are angry that the national leadership of our great party, the APC, has endorsed the Umar Doguwa-led chairmanship of the party in Kano and dismissed their sham congresses,” he added.