Like in many other states across the country, last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections threw up a lot of upsets in Niger State as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Power State lost three of its coveted seats it fought hard to win in 2015 and consolidate in 2019.
However, the ruling party’s performance in the state was not in itself abysmal. Unlike in some other APC states, the party won the presidential election, which was the main subject of the February contest, in Niger State. It also held on to two senate seats and seven out of 10 House of Representatives seats.
As the clock ticks towards the governorship and state assembly polls next Saturday, analysts have expressed optimism and predicted that the APC’s governorship candidate in Niger would win with a landslide.
They observed that the anomalies which led to the party losing some seats in the National Assembly would not play out again during the polls; hinging their postulation on the fact that beyond the ruling party boasting of the structure and dexterity to remedy the situation, Mohammed Umar Bago, its governorship candidate, commands a lot of influence and goodwill in those areas where the main opposition created upsets in the last elections to turn the table against them.
The postulation, no doubt, is apt considering the fact that the Bago’s candidacy has become a movement itself; with adherents cutting across tribal and religious lines across the state. This will definitely work in favour of the ruling party on Saturday.
His recent campaign outings attest to the fact that the candidate is a man of the people; looking at the crowds that always turn out to welcome him anywhere his campaign train heads.
More so, his acceptability rating across the three senatorial districts that make up the state has been overwhelming and a plus to him. This stemmed from the fact that he has been able to build bridges and friendships in all the nooks and crannies of the state unlike others whose influence hardly goes beyond small cycles of friends.
His development imprints across the areas that make up Chanchaga Federal Constituency are signs of a man who means well for his people. They will turn out en masse to reciprocate the same on Saturday.
Ditto for the people of Zone C who have embraced him as a worthy ambassador and true son of the soil.
For Zone A, where he hails from, a statement was made during his mega tour of the area. It was homecoming for a son who would never let them down for whatever reason. They will rise up rin solidarity when day breaks on Saturday.
Mohammed Alfa Yabagi, wrote from Tswata Mukun, Bida
