In a shocking comment, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has said he will not congratulate the winner of the Bayelsa state governorship election, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Seriake Dickson of the PDP defeated Timipre Sylva of the APC, President Buhari’s party.

Speaking for the government, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, told journalists in Abuja that the President would not follow the habit of his predecessor who was of the habit of sending congratulatory messages to winners of elections regardless of party affiliation immediately after announcement of results.

“This President is not in the business of interfering and intervening in elections. What of if he sent a congratulatory message and they go to court and the election is overturned, will he call back the congratulatory message? This President believes that the presidency should be insulated from the conduct of elections and their outcomes,” the Minister said.

The minister also dismissed rumours circulating on the social media that President Buhari will soon embark of 91 days medical leave.

The Minister, who said if Buhari is going to go on leave at all, he is not going to hide it, described the rumour as part of campaign of calumny against the President.

Recall that Senator Ben Bruce, a Bayelsa State PDP Senator and other members of the party had accused the president of not congratulating the Bayelsa governor.

Meanwhile the APC candidate at the just concluded Bayelsa state governorship election,Timipre Sylva has said the election was skewed against him and his party by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 Source: Naij