Follow Us on Google
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded Nasarawa North by-election, Dr. Emmanuel Ombugadu, has said his decision to remain silent throughout the election campaign despite sustained attacks was aimed at preserving peace and unity among the people of Nasarawa North.
He said he deliberately avoided responding to allegations made against him by former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, because he did not want to fuel political tension during the election.
“My silence should not be mistaken for cowardice or an admission of guilt. I remained calm because I did not want to create a crisis among our people during the election. But the attacks have continued even after the election, making it necessary for me to clear my name,” he said.
The former House of Representatives member insisted that he never betrayed Maku, disclosing that he consulted the former minister before his brief defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and again after returning to the PDP.
According to him, his consultations with Maku were part of the efforts to ensure political unity and secure greater development for the people of Nasarawa North.
“I consulted him before making any decision. I also went back to him after returning to the PDP and appealed to him to come back so we can work together, but he declined.”
Ombugadu said allegations that he collected N3 billion from the APC were false and intended to damage his reputation.
“I did not collect any money from anybody. Those making such claims should produce evidence. I have nothing to hide.”
Other News
He said the by-election was never about personal rivalry but about giving the PDP the opportunity to prove that it remained a viable political platform despite claims that the party had lost relevance.
He alleged that Maku had described the PDP as a dead party, adding that he could not allow such a statement to go unchallenged.
“When someone says your party is dead, you cannot deliberately field a weak candidate. We contested to win and to demonstrate that the PDP remains a strong political force in Nasarawa State,” he said.
The PDP stalwart maintained that the outcome of the election showed the party still enjoyed considerable support across the state.
“If you look at the results, you will see that our supporters stood firmly with us. The PDP structure is still intact and our support base remains solid,” he said.
He further said he became the major target of attacks during the campaign despite the presence of several candidates in the race.
“I was not the only candidate in the election, but almost every attack was directed at me. Politics should be about presenting programmes and ideas, not destroying the character of opponents,” he added.
He said he had learnt valuable lessons from the by-election, noting that the intense political pressure had strengthened his resolve.
