The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has debunked the reports making the rounds that he is ill.

Atiku described the reports that he is ill as “fake news”.

The former Vice President made this known in reaction to a video circulating that he was being helped strapped to his car seatbelt by an aide.

However, Atiku, in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said the PDP presidential candidate “is in robust good health”.

He described the viral video as the “work of mischief with no understanding of security protocols”, adding that it was the responsibility of the head of the former Vice President’s security to ensure his safety before the convoy commences any movement.

Ibe stated: “Nothing can be further from the truth. For the records, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in robust good health.

“We would not ordinarily have responded to this mischief, but for the impression that it will create in the minds of Nigerians which is exactly the objective of the purveyors of this fake news.

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“Recall that the former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the PDP was in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State on Thursday for the grand rally of the PDP ahead of weekend’s election and victory of its governorship candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.

“It is important to note that protective operations encompasses all measures being put in place to ensure extreme safety of a VIP both on foot movements, static, and on motion.

“It is the responsibility of the head of Atiku Abubakar’s security to ensure his safety before the convoy commences any movement. Since VIP movement entails protective driving, securing a VIP before embarking on any type of journey be it short or long distance cannot be over emphasised. The overriding consideration at all times is the safety of Atiku Abubakar.

“We wish to state that Atiku Abubakar is not averse to scrutiny because of the consequential nature of the 2023 elections.

“However, it is our position that such scrutiny must not be predicated on a slash and burn rogue journalism as is the case with this contrived report,” the statement read.

The Star