Senatorial bye election: Niger PDP backpedals on Zagbayi’s adoption, opts for primary

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Following the challenge raised by Hon. Abdullai Musa against the afoption of Dr. Nuhu Xagbayi as the consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming Niger North East Senatorial slot, the leadership of the party in the state has said that there would be primary for the authentic candidate to emerge.

Musa had officially presented a letter to the officials of the party yesterday in Minna challenging the adoption of Dr Zagbayi as a consensus candidate while declaring his interest for the senatorial position. According to him, he remained the most qualified candidate for the slot considering his experience as a former member of the House of Representatives.

He urged the party to allow a fair playing ground for every candidate who is interested in contesting for exalted position in the zone even as he charged the party to revisit the procedures being followed in order to allow democracy to reign in the party.

On whether he was sponsored by General Ibrahim Babangida to scuttle the initial arrangement of the party, he said “No, I am not sponsored by anybody; I am an independent minded person. For those who know me, though am close to IBB, he is a father to me and I used to consult him on my issues, even these I consulted him but he told me not to because people will abuse him for my emergence and I told him to bless me on this mission and that was all” he stated.

The party acting Chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji, said “with the emergence of Hon. Abdullahi Musa the issue of consensus candidate by the party has been dislodged because he is from this

zone, a PDP member and has the right to contest for the exalted position from the zone.” He assured that the most acceptable candidate would emerge from the primary to be conducted within this week.

Beji stated that the party has no option than to go for primary reiterating that it will be conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

He added that the party’s nomination form will cost N1.5 million with additional N100,000.00 intention form fee urging them to be prepared for directives from the party at any moment.