The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has declared Lokoja 2 Assembly as Unopposed and that the PDP candidate has withdrawn from the race.
This was disclosed in Kabba on Monday by the Executive governor of Kogi State and the leader of the party in the, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello during the Kogi west senatorial campaign rally and flag presentations to the candidates.
Gov. Bello while presenting flag to the APC candidate, Hon Umar popularly called Assignment, the governor declares that “you’re unopposed in this election, you’re already a winner” the governor declared..
Reacting to the statement credited to the governor in Kabba on Monday, former Sen Dino Melaye and the PDP described the APC statement as jokes and shouldn’t be taken serious, saying if any candidate withdraw, the PDP will make a replacement and still win without delay.
According to him the PDP is aware of the many meetings APC purportedly held with their candidate, Hon. Kasim Ishiaku. He said there was a move by Hon. Assignment who is desperately afraid of the contest and wanted cheap victory and the Lokoja LG chairman Hon Dansabe Mohammed who many believe lack goodwill in the local government and won’t be able to influence any election is held bent to pacify the PDP candidate to withdraw in conjunction with MaiKudi Bature, the party Chairman in the local government with a promise that he will be appointed the traditional ruler of Kupa Land.
He said the party believe Hon. Kasim won’t defects as top leaders of the party have interacted with him including former Sen.Tunde Ogbeha, Hon. Shaba Ibrahim the house of Reps candidate and many others. He said if eventually, their candidate defects to APC, the party has penciled a better candidate from Kupa who will stil defeat the APC, although, anything can happen six days to the expiration of substitution window, the senator said its nothing but a vain exercise as PDP will still win more seats across the state.
Sen. Dino said Hon kashim has assured notable leaders of the party including Sen. Ogbeha that he won’t defects to APC as doing so would paint him as an immoral personality which will create a bad name for him and his family.
“You know APC are Jokers, how those getting an unopposed in Lokoja 2 constituency affects our party in the entire state? Kogi is PDP and PDP is Kogi, why are the afraid of us in Lokoja? It’s a clear sign of defeat.
“Two personalities have been penciled down as a replacement in case of any eventuality. We are closely monitoring the development, although, our candidate is going know where, he’s a trusted and an upright leader.
“Hon. Kassim is a honourable and respected politician who has earned a name for himself, he said to many that he won’t leave to an unknown and abandon his contest”, he said.