By Kingsley Fanwo
AVM Saliu Atawodi (rtd), a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress has disregarded the purported endorsement of Prince Abubakar Audu by delegates from the East, referring to it as a figment of the writer’s “mischievous imagination”.

There were reports today by some dailies (not Vanguard) that Kogi East had endorsed the candidature of Prince Abubakar Audu.

Atawodi said the primary election will be based on decision of individual delegate and not an ethnic determination. He said the outcome of the primary will shock those who think “Kogi is their personal estate”.

In an exclusive chat with Vanguard this morning, Atawodi said he is prepared and confident of winning the election.

He said the era of playing ethnic jingoism in politics was gone, calling on the promoters of the “spurious story to come to terms with the political reality in the state”.

“The Chairman of the Primary Election Panel,His Excellency Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is a man of integrity and we believe the process will be transparent”, he said.

He called on his supporters to discountenance the report and cast their votes in support of true change.