APC hasn't zoned me out of 2015 Presidential contest, says Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed as 'sponsored stories,' reports by some media platforms to the effect that the All Progressives Congress, of which he is chief, had zoned him out of the presidential contest following a new arrangement.

A statement by the Atiku Media Office on Saturday, quoted the former Vice President as saying that at no time did the party's Convention Planning Committee or its recently-dissolved Interim National Executive Council discussed the issue of zoning of elective offices outside the positions of leadership of the party which he said, were filled at the highly successful convention held on Friday.

'As for the presidential ticket, the position of all organs of the party is that it is open to all Nigerians irrespective of where they come from,' said Atiku.

The statement described as 'a hatchet job for Aso Rock' a front page lead story in today's edition of a newspaper  titled 'Atiku Zoned Out', wondering why the presidency was so scared of the prospect of Jonathan facing Atiku in 2015.

It also accused the paper of abandoning principles and its responsibility to the public 'by uncritically accepting and mechanically reproducing editorials, opinions and reports' from the Villa.

'Atiku's chances have never been better, given the climate of democracy and freedom in the APC' said the media office, which also disclosed that the former Vice President would any moment from now ,be making a pronouncement on if, when and how he would  be making a declaration.