The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Saturday, said there was no truth in the claim by Saraki that he stepped down for President Buhari in the APC presidential race. Adesina, in an interview with one of Punch correspondents, said the issue of stepping down did not arise because the party conducted a free and fair presidential primary which Buhari won.

The presidential spokesman said all Nigerians know those who took part in the party primary. Adesina said, "There was no issue of stepping down during the presidential race in the APC. There was a presidential primary that was plain, transparent, free and fair.

"We all know those who were involved in the primary; all Nigerians know those who participated in the APC presidential primary and President Buhari emerged the winner of that process." When asked if Saraki had reached out to the President as he claimed, Adesina said, "The President has always maintained that the party is supreme. The party started a process which was truncated.

"The President has always maintained that those who truncated or aborted the process were the ones who precipitated crisis.

"The President had said in earlier statements that he would work with anybody who emerged the Senate President, but then, that did not include those who will subvert (the process)."