The coalition of 45 political parties in Kogi state have endorsed the candidacy of Alhaji Yahaya Bello for second term in office in the November 16th governorship election in the state.
The political parties said they opted to rally round the governor to enable him continue and consolidate on his achievements recorded in the last four years.
At a press conference in Lokoja Wednesday, the Coalition of Political Parties (CPP), said 12 political parties with governorship candidates, 15 political parties without governorship candidates and 18 political parties that withdrew from the race via their national chairmen, have thrown their weight behind the governor.
This was confirmed by the chairman of CPP, Dr Sani Teidi, who disclosed that these political parties have following objective evaluation and analysis of all the parties and candidates vying in the November poll, chosen to support Bello.
He said their choice was based on the achievements of the governor so far and the need to sustain the development strides already made by the present administration.
The CPP chairman said considering the successful first term of Governor Bello, the coalition resolved that since his administration has provided Kogi state with a lot of indices for development by eliminating ethnic, religious and class difference among the people, it was necessary to back for a second term.
He lauded the governor for his policy of inclusion and proportional distribution of appointments and projects across the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that, they are resolute to help in the actualisation of the governor’s quest for a second term.
“We use this medium to warn against the increasingly ethnic coloration which some other parties and their candidates are giving to their campaign because it is seriously disincentive, both to the coalition and to voters in Kogi state.
“We appeal to all political parties to have respect for the rule of law by playing according to the rules before, during and after the election”.
The CPP charged the governor to see his endorsement as a call to provide even more transformational leadership to Kogi state rather than a victory over the opposition.
Responding, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) deputy governor candidate, Chief Edward Onoja, said the endorsement of his principal was for the unity, interest and the development of the State adding that, this will go a long way to show what election is all about.
He said the governor is a candidate that has continued to unite Kogi state stressing that his first term in office has broken the barriers of ethnic and religious difference in the state.
Acknowledging that the state belongs to over four million people, the former chief of staff to the governor said it is imperative to break the long existing oligarchy in the state.
He admonished them to go out and advocate and campaign for a violence free election in November.
The political parties that endorsed Governor Bello are KOWA, DA, APA, LP, NNPP, YES PARTY, AGAP, MMN, ABP, AA, SNG, NPC, NAC, BNPP, DPP, ABDP, PDC, and CAP.
Others are ACCORD, AD, GPN, PPN, NCP, YDP, JMPP, ZLP, PPP, HDP, AAC and PRP.
Also included in the endorsement list were NPM, ACPN, UPP, ACD, NEPP, NDLP, NRM, AGA, DPC, NUP, RBNP, RAP, CNP, PDM and NDCP.
