Many forces worked against my emergence — Sen. Umaru

The representative of Niger East Senatorial District, David Umaru, has disclosed that so many forces in Niger State worked against his reelection into the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.

Umaru, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Committee, made this known to journalists on Sunday when he was received by his supporters who were chanting: “Umaru is Niger’s only hope”, “Freedom Fighter”, “Our Leader”, “Our Last Hope”, “There is no substitute in Zone B,” and others at his Minna residence.

According to him: “The plan of the enemy has failed.

“A lot of forces in Niger State worked against me, but God is faithful and reliable.

“A lot of things were done by some people in the state to truncate my chances but God did not allow them succeed.

“They did a lot of things and of course wasted a lot of resources just to ensure I don’t return.

“I am happy with the ruling.

“My feeling right now is a reflection of the feelings of the people of my zone.

“I really commend my people for standing for what is right.”

It should be recalled that the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday last week reversed the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which sacked Umaru as the All Progressives Congress’s candidate for the Niger East Senatorial District seat.

The Federal High Court had in a February 7, 2019 judgment declared Muhammed Sani Musa as the validly nominated candidate for the seat, a decision appealed by Umaru.

While expressing optimism that when the Apex Court (Supreme Court) sits it will be in his favour, Umaru called on the people to take advantage of the lessons learnt in the cause of the 2019 general elections.

So many leaders from the Local Government Areas that make up the District hailed the court’s ruling.

One of the leaders, Ahijo Walijo, said: “Senator Umaru is the only candidate that can be trusted in the state.”

In a unanimous judgment of a three-man panel, the Court of Appeal upheld the appeal by Umaru and dismissed the objection filed by Musa.