The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Israel Ebije, has disassociated his boss from a campaign poster bearing Aliyu’s image and that of General Muhammadu Buhari for the Senate and presidential election respectively.
Ebije, in a signed statement made available to journalists on Sunday, said it was the handwork of enemies of democracy, adding that desperate politicians have resorted to fabricating campaign posters to mislead and cause friction among the Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said the poster currently trending on the social network also carries the image of the Niger State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Umar Muhammed Nasko; Hon. Yakubu Sallau, the PDP candidate for the House of Representatives; and Hon. Jummai Jafaru, the candidate for the Niger State House of Assembly.
According to Ebije: “It is indeed disturbing and very embarrassing to see campaign poster carrying the picture of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and General Muhammadu Buhari. It is very clear those behind the act of shame have gone beyond desperation as they are attempting to force a link between the Niger state Governor and the All Progressive Congress.
“The Niger State Governor has categorically condemned the move, and he is calling on supporters of the PDP to remain focused and resolved to vote for the PDP overwhelmingly in the approaching general elections.”
Ebije said some politicians are still very angry with Governor Aliyu for remaining in the PDP, adding that after failing to blackmail him out of the ruling party, they have conceived devious blackmail to present him negatively before his supporters and leadership of his party in Niger State and at the national level.
He therefore called on the electorate to measure the choice of party and candidates on the general behavioural trend of the entire political class, adding that rascality and gangsterism before election will always permeate through administrative competence to breed impunity.