APC rules out substitution of Assembly candidates in Nasarawa

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has disclosed that the party will not substitute any of the candidates for the 24 State House of Assembly constituencies in the coming election.  The state Chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello, stated this in Lafia while distributing INEC nomination forms to the candidates, insisting that […]

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has disclosed that the party will not substitute any of the candidates for the 24 State House of Assembly constituencies in the coming election. 

The state Chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello, stated this in Lafia while distributing INEC nomination forms to the candidates, insisting that the names forwarded by the National Secretariat is the authentic one.

“Nobody has changed any candidate. You can’t change anybody because we gave them the form to go and fill. It is based on the form that their names will be uploaded.”

Bello explained that the distribution was in line with the INEC timetable following the conclusion of primaries conducted by the National Secretariat.

“There is nothing new. It’s a normal process. You know the party primaries were conducted by the National Secretariat, and in view of the INEC timetable, we have conducted the primaries successfully and we’re in the process of candidates being uploaded to INEC,” he said.

“And before you do that, INEC will issue forms to the candidates. So today, INEC gave our national headquarters forms for the State House of Assemblies, the 24 State House of Assembly constituency.  Ours is just to distribute it to them based on the names submitted from the National Secretariat.”

Speaking on the party’s chances, the chairman expressed optimism that APC will win all 24 seats, citing its performance in the recent off-cycle and bye-elections across the country.

“We are going out to work. We have won all the elections, the off-cycle election, the bye-election all over the country, it is APC that has been emerging victorious. So, what are you saying? We work. We allow them to do the noise, while we do the underground work,” he said.

On aspirants that are aggrieved after the primaries, Bello acknowledged that disappointment after primaries is normal, but urged them to work for the party’s success, disclosing that a reconciliation committee will be set up after the elections.

“I want you to tell me one party that does not have people that are angry or issues. For your information, PDP has two candidates in Nasarawa State. ADC, even in court,” he said.

“It is a normal process.  It is not everyone that will be happy with all the process. Those that are not happy with the process, we say they should please come and work for the party. There are many things on the table. The government is too large.”

He further assured that loyal members will be considered for appointments and other opportunities once the party forms the government.

“By the time we form the government, we’ll look for them. There are people that were looking for State Assembly, they were appointed DGs of very suitable agencies. So, we are going to put on a reconciliation committee by the grace of God. We’ll continue to appeal that it is only one person that will occupy a position at a particular time. And it is only God that makes leaders.”