Bye-election: APC’s victories in Kwara, Bauchi, Katsina signs of things to come –Presidency

By Lawrence Olaoye

The Presidency has said that victories recorded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the bye-election held Kwara, Bauchi and Katsina states at the weekend are indicative of what to expect at the 2019 general election.
In a statement made available to newsmen by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the APC’s electoral victories have shattered any assumption that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) could return to power in 2019.
Shehu wrote “The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a number of significant outcomes in the last 24 hours thereby shattering any assumptions of a PDP return.
“This is a sign of things to come in the 2019 elections.
“In the bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, November 17, 2018, the APC swept the seats in three federal constituencies in Katsina State, three in Kwara State, and another in Bauchi State.
“This victory should be a blow for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigners who have maintained that by merely claiming that they have rebranded, Nigerians will have forgotten all the mess they left behind in 2015.
“By voting overwhelmingly for the ruling APC, Nigerians have shown their confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and their willingness for continuation of this government and its policies.
“This clear show of support can only be a synopsis of what Nigerians should expect in the forthcoming elections, at all levels.
“I would like to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians that there will always be a winner and a loser in every election, an individual and a party with the highest votes and another with the lowest.
“That is what democracy is about. Therefore, all aspirants should approach elections with the mindset that they could either win or lose.
“Accepting results only when one wins and challenging results each time one loses, is not the right attitude. It is certainly not what democracy is about.
“On behalf of President Buhari, I thank the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support over the weekend.
I thank Nigerians all over the country for believing in this government and in its determined effort to pull our nation out of the mess left behind by 16 years of PDP government, and into the greatness that is our destiny.”