The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State has released the list of its candidates for all the elections slated for 2019 with its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Umar Nasko, topping the list.
The list is however still silent on the running mate for the governorship standard-bearer.
The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Tanko Beji, who unveiled the list at the party’s secretariat Thursday, said the candidates emerged after ” crisis free primaries”.
On the list, according to Beji, were the three senatorial candidates — Alhaji Ishyaku Ibrahim (SAN) for Niger East senatorial zone, Alhaji Sani Cuba for Niger North zone and a former deputy chief whip of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Baba Shehu Agaie for Niger South senatorial zone.
The chairman said Alhaji Rico Mohammed will be leading a 10-man assault team for the House of Representatives seats allotted to the state, while 27 others among them a woman, Hajia Sadatu Kolo, were elected to battle for the House of Assembly seats with other political parties in the general election.
“We had a crisis-free election. There was no petition from any of the contestants. The appeal committee sent by the national body did not have any work to do.
“The congresses were peaceful and transparent. We learnt from our mistakes and we did not have a single appeal filed,” Beji said.
He further said that the PDP in the state “went through all the processes and came out clean. Our party seems to be on track to reclaim our leadership position in the state”.
The PDP chieftain appreciated all those who contested for the position that won or lost for “not seeing it as winners or losers but as sports that winners and losers must emerge this is the spirit of the game”.
“We are now set for the battle ahead. Our party is the party to beat. We will pick everything that is there to pick,” he said.
He disclosed that the PDP would introduce a new dimension to its campaign for the 2019 election in the state, saying: “Our campaigns will be organised simultaneously. We are set to hit the ground running once the INEC lifts ban on campaigns.”
