By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Ibrahim Kassim, has resigned from the gubernatorial race. A new primary will, therefore, be conducted by the party in the state to fill the vacuum created.
The PDP had claimed that Kassim, a former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, contested the governorship primary in the state “unopposed.”
Our Correspondent had learnt from a source in the party, that Kassim, went into the race to hold brief for the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who at the time was contesting for the presidential primary election, adding that that the governor had purchased the governorship form secretly and was also screened and cleared secretly as a plan B should he not get the presidential ticket of the party.
Mohammed lost the presidential primary election having gotten only 20 votes.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Yayanuwa Zainabari, confirmed the development to journalists on Tuesday evening.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that, our gubernatorial candidate, Barr Kashim Ibrahim has withdrawn from the race. The only reason he gave the party that he withdrew due to personal reasons.
“Since he has withdrawn voluntarily, the party has no option but to accept his decision and thank him for being a loyal parry member.
“We have started the process of getting a replacement for him in line with the provisions of the relevant electoral laws and guidelines. We will look into all of the laws and do the needful,” he said.
Asked if what the parry is doing is not a ploy to deceive the electorates, he said that, “no, not a deceit, he voluntarily bought the forms, contested and won, now he has withdrawn voluntarily. There is no deceit there”.
He said: “One thing is that, the people of Bauchi State have beckoned on Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir to continue as the Governor for a second term and by the grace of God, he will be our candidate for 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
“You know that he contested but lost the party presidential primaries, he can now come back, contest for the gubernatorial ticket so that he will participate as the candidate of the PDP in 2023”, he stressed.
The PDP Spokesperson assured that, “In sha Allah, between today and Saturday, we will let the people know the next line of action, it could be another primaries in the state or direct substitution, whichever is easier and recognized by the law is what we want to do”.
He however assured people of Bauchi State that the PDP is not confused and not deceiving them but doing things as recognized and accepted by law.
Another member of the State Working Committee also confirmed the development on the condition of anonymity, saying that Kassim submitted his resignation letter to the national headquarters of the party today, Tuesday.
He said: “Yes, what you heard is true, he has resigned leaving the party with no candidate so, a fresh election must be conducted immediately in order to meet up with the deadline given by INEC. I don’t know when he resigned but I know he submitted his letter to the national
“This was part of the agreement from day one. The law says that if you are not contesting the election again, you have to personally write and submit to the party and the party will sell forms to some people and conduct a fresh primary again.
I” don’t know if forms will be sold or not but I know that fresh primary election will be held either Friday or Saturday.. We went to INEC and they told us that since the deadline has not elapsed, we can still conduct election and get our candidate and that’s what we will do either Friday or Saturday.”
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