The Labour Party (LP) in Nasarawa State has thrown its weight behind the candidature of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the rescheduled Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections.
The development came barely a week after the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Joseph Ewuga, stepped down for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. David Ombugadu.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Lafia, Rev. Angba Solomon Kuje, the LP’s candidate for the House of Representatives for Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency in the just concluded National Assembly election, said the decision of the party to support Governor Sule was arrived at after a series of meetings and consultations.
He said the move by Mr. Ewuga to align with the PDP’s governorship candidate, was a personal one and not a collective party decision.
According to him, the party learnt about Ewuga’s move through the media.
“Let me on behalf of the Labour Party in Nasarawa state clearly state that if the reported step down is true, then it is strictly a personal decision of Mr. Joseph Ewuga and does not enjoy the approval or support of the Labour Party in Nasarawa state,” he said.
He said during the party’s engagements and meetings, it noted that Peter Obi won the presidential election in the State purely on his personal merit which, he said, was only in tandem with the National Mass Movement by the Obedient family nationwide.
He noted that members of the party have thoroughly examined the various candidates of all political parties in the state based on their merit, strength and weaknesses with a view to supporting only one of them to victory with the belief that the task of administering the state is far and beyond an individual, ethnicity and religion.
He explained that in arriving at a decision of a candidate to support, members looked out for competence, capacity, character, experience, temperament and managerial exposure.
“Importantly we looked at the ability to keep the various ethnic groups in the state together as one big family irrespective of religion or cultural background.
“After due painstaking considerations, we in the Labour party have come to an irreversible conclusion without any fear of contradiction, that Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule of the All-Progressives Congress, APC and incumbent Governor stands Taller, Bigger, Better and Stronger and as such deserves the support of the Labour Party in Saturday’s gubernatorial elections. This is our position. This is our common stand. This is the way to go come Saturday,” he declared.
In the same vein, African Democratic Party (ADC) also backed Gov Sule for another term in office, while urging its members and supporters to vote for the incumbent on Saturday.
It made its position known through Mr. Godwin Williams Alaku, the governorship candidate of the party on Tuesday in Lafia.
“The ADC as a party in Nasarawa State have in the last few days looked at the need to move the political trajectory of Nasarawa state forward, both in terms of democratic dividends and overall developments in all areas of needs in the state.
“In doing that, we have come to the realistic conclusions that the incumbent Governor Engr AA Sule has done well since coming into office as the Governor of the state from 2019.
“In view of that I Hon Godwin Williams Alaku have decided to step down as the Gubernatorial candidate of the ADC party in Nasarawa state and do hereby plead with all our teeming members of the ADC to come out in mass to vote for Engr AA. Sule. of the APC, come this Saturday,” he said.
