Follow Us on Google
A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna yesterday accepted the decision of the party’s stakeholders in the three senatorial zones to contest the party’s primaries.
He said he will slug it out with Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada in the governorship primaries.
Following the choice of Wadada by Governor Abdullahi, Haruna convened a consultative meeting in Keffi with chairmen, secretaries and leaders of support groups.
He described the gathering as a decision-making forum rather than a campaign rally.
The former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) said the meeting followed advice from his Contact and Mobilisation Committee on political developments in the state.
Haruna said he delayed announcing his position in order to consult widely.
He said: “This is not a rally but a consultative meeting of chairmen and secretaries of various associations and leaders of several support groups that came from different places.
“As advised by members of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee, the essence of this meeting is that we should hear the views of our supporters.
“We insisted that all chairmen, secretaries and vice chairmen of the various support groups should come so that it is a consultative meeting to take a decision.
“When the government announced its decision, the aspirants in this forum agreed that we will consult our supporters and critical stakeholders and then take a unanimous decision. That is the reason why you did not hear from me.
“Your verdict has determined our next line of action and I hereby accept to contest the primaries and we will be having our rally on Wednesday”.
Defending his right to contest, and citing his role in the formation and growth of the ruling party, he said, “I provided financial support to the Congress for Progressive Change and the establishment of the party. Some chairmen and officials are alive to attest to how we supported the establishment of party offices across local governments.
“I started my APC from the national. If this forum succeeds, even if I am not the governor, I should celebrate it because it is my initiative,” he said.
He also referenced the ongoing succession debate, arguing that earlier expectations around a preferred successor had not been met.
“We gave a blanket cheque that the governor could select anyone among those that would have our support based on certain expectations, but the situation has changed,” he said.
Haruna said his decision to consult stakeholders was also informed by their contributions to his political structure.
“We are not disobedient to constitutional authority. We are in the party and we are working for its success. If the primaries are free, fair and transparent, we will accept whatever Allah has decided as the verdict,” he said.
The stakeholders were emphatic urging him to proceed to the primaries, citing zoning equity and his record in public service.
Suleiman Amgbashi, who spoke for Nasarawa Senatorial North (Akwanga) said support for Haruna was tied to the need for micro-zoning within Nasarawa West.
“When you do something, there should be micro-zoning. If the position is zoned to Nasarawa West, fairness demands that other local governments be considered.
“He is a professor with experience, with visible actions and tangible projects across the country. His track record as a public servant is not in doubt,” he said.
From the Southern zone, Ibrahim Adega said the absence of consensus made a primary contest inevitable. “The governor has a preferred candidate, but that does not automatically make the candidate the choice of everyone. That means there must be a contest. We told him clearly to go to the primary,” he said.
Following the verdict of the stakeholders, Haruna said he would abide by their position.
