The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has described news making the rounds in the state that he has dumped his anointed governorship candidate, Umar Nasko, of the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressive Congress candidate, Abubakar Sani Bello, as false and misleading.
Aliyu said this when he received guests in his office on Wednesday in Minna.
He also said the electorates should not be deterred by defections from the PDP.
He described politicians defecting from the PDP to the APC as people who are suffering from poverty of integrity, morality and principle.
According to Aliyu: “For principles of integrity, morality, we have chosen to remain in PDP.
“I heard people insinuating that I have dumped my party governorship candidate for the APC candidate.
“It is a lie.
“I will never do such a thing.
“I’ll rather resign from politics instead of defecting from PDP.
“Those defecting from PDP based on the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections lack principles of integrity and morality.
“They are indeed stomach politicians.”
Aliyu added that those who should worry are members of the APC who will soon have problems of political profiteers in their hands.
Speaking on the forthcoming election, he said Niger State APC accusation against the PDP over plans to rig in the April 11 gubernatorial election have shown that “they are indeed the very ones trying to rig and cause civil unrest.
“On our own side, we will abide by the rule to ensure nobody or party is cheated.
“The election must indeed reflect the wishes of the people.”
Meanwhile, Alhaji Seidu Abubakar, a former Chairman of Wushishi Local Government Area, who led a group of former local government chairmen in Niger State to the governor on a visit, intimated him that they have chosen to remain in the PDP based on principles and conviction.
Abubakar said: “Despite the after effect of the presidential election, we remain undaunted.
“The (president-elect, Muhammadu) Buhari effect has come and gone.
“The next election will not be APC show anymore because we do not have Buhari among the governorship candidates of the APC.”