Plateau By-election: APC has no anointed candidate, says party Chairman

Ahead of the February 26 by-election for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency
election in Plateau State, the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has promised to provide a level-playing ground for all its aspirants, declaring that it has no anointed candidate as being speculated on the social media.

The Plateau State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Rufus Bature said the party is ready to provide level playing ground for all the eight aspirants running for the party’s ticket ahead of by-election.

The Chairman disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview with Journalists at the State Party’s Secretariat Jos and expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious at the House of Representatives by-election and Pankshin South State constituency.

He dismissed rumours that delegates have been directed to vote for Governor Simon Lalong’s favourite candidate during the primaries next week.

“The party will ensure that a level playing ground is provided for all the aspirants at the forth coming party primary. We have no anointed candidate. The party will work with who ever emerge at the primary.

“To the best of my knowledge, there has been no instruction from the Governor as to who t support, we are creating a level playing ground for all the aspirants. All of them are attending a screening in Abuja today (Wednesday),’ he said.

‘We have eight candidates who have bought forms and we will create a level playing ground for all of them. The primary election will be on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, and it will be by the grace of God indirect primaries.’

Bature explained that he has not received a report of the committee that was set by Sen Timothy Adudu to conduct a primary election for aspirants in Bassa with a view to come up with a single person for the party’s primary in February.

‘I was not on seat when that committee was set up and I have not received any report from any committee, I am acting based on what is happening now. I don’t have a report from any committee that was set up to that effect, a level playing ground would be provided for all the aspirants,’ he stated.

‘Bature explained that there was a plead from the people of Bassa, seeking the understanding of Jos North people to allowed them in the spirit of fairness to complete their tenure.

He noted that people have purchased forms across the two local government areas and that a level playing ground would be provided for all of them.

CAPITAL POST reports that the Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council, Hon. Shehu Usman Bala was alleged to have issued threats to APC Delegates in Ali Kazaure Ward of Jos North Local Government Area to either cast their votes for Hon. Abbey Aku in the forthcoming party primary for the Bye-Election for Jos North Bassa Federal Constituency scheduled for February 26, 2022 or loose their positions.