Paul Orude, Bauchi
Former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, (Bauchi Central), has described the victory of Speaker Yakubu Dogara who was returned elected in Saturday’s National Assembly election as a slap on the face of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Prof Mahmoud Abdulhamid, said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abubakar Dalhatu Kantana polled a total of 50,705 while Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scored a total of 73,609 to emerge the winner
Reacting to Dogara’s victory in an interview with journalists on Monday, Ningi, who is the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council in Bauchi State, said the victory was a slap on Governor Abubakar who failed in his bid to stop the former.
He said: “There is nothing that Governor Mohammed Abubakar didn’t do to stop Dogara. This is a victory for democracy and a testimony of the dividends of democracy that the speaker has brought to his people.
“If you are asking of Federal government projects, the only place you will see visible projects in Bauchi State is in Dogara’s constituency. Beyond ethnic and religious boundaries, Dogara is an exceptional politician. His victory is a slap on Mohammed Abubakar because there is nothing he didn’t do to stop him’
Senator Ningi explained that Dogara’s victory had opened a clear window that the PDP “will take the state because we have seen how federal and state might come to bear to stop Dogara coming to naught. This is a possibility that comes March 9, we will take over the state”
On the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Ningi expressed lack of confidence in the security agencies.
“As far as l am concern, the security agencies in the state have been compromised by the chief security officer of the state who is a candidate doing a lot of things to intimidate opponents. It is shameful.”
On the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ningi said he was satisfied with their performance so far “though a few INEC officials compromised, they have been steadfast generally.”