- * Another Reps Member Escapes Ambush, Assassination After Aborted Primaries
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
A serving member of the House of Representatives representing Kontagora, Wushishi, Mashegu and Mariga federal constituency (zone C), Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba (Mai-solar) has emerged the APC candidate for the 2023 general elections.
This is coming as supporters of the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the electorates, have expressed reservations and were getting more agitated with the increasing number of inconclusive primaries into the National Assembly and the danger it portends for the nations’ polity.
Apprehensions are high in some senatorial districts over when the elections would be conducted and concluded, as election failed to take place due to security threats. One of the aspirants for the Lapai/Agaie federal Constituency on the platform of the ruling APC, Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi and his entourage, narrowly escaped assassins after the aborted primaries.
Narrating his near death encounter, Mahmud, a seasoned journalist and a former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to late former Governor of Niger State, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure and his supporters, said they were ambushed by suspected political thugs near Kutriko village.
Mahmud said they were encountered on their way back to Minna at about 2 am on Saturday after the primaries of the Federal Constituency had been put off over alleged irregularities as officials of the party had announced the shifting of the primaries due to violence and some noticeable irregularities as indicated by security reports.
Mahmud said he and his supporters escaped through the bush path when they were intercepted by suspected thugs armed with dangerous weapons along the Kutriko-Agaie road, and in the ensuing skirmishes, some of his supporters were injured and were rushed to a nearby medical facility in the area.
The former CPS as he is fondly called who is venturing into politics for the first time, said five party officials who were to conduct the National Assembly primaries were not spared as they were held hostage and forced to sign the result papers in favour of a particular opponent.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives member representing Kontagora/Wushishi/Mashegu/Mariga federal constituency, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba who is contesting for the 5th time has emerged the APC candidate for the 2023 elections.
The Returning Officer, Mallam Ado Abdulkarim, while announcing the outcome of the controversial primary, said Garba scored 216 votes against his opponent, Alhaji Suleiman Mazakuka, who did not get a single vote, while four invalid votes were also recorded.
Garba who is popularly called Mai-solar, is the Director-General of the Governor Bello’s Senatorial Campaign team. In his remarks, he expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the exercise and the confidence reposed in him, assured to deliver victory for the governor as APC flag bearer.
Expressing gratitude to his constituency for finding him worthy to represent them at the lower Chamber of the National Assembly for the fifth time, Garba said he is dedicating the victory to the entire constituency as he would consolidate on previous developmental strides.
Garba bragged that he will be one of the most experienced in the next Assembly and with the zoning of the House of Rep Speakership to the North-Central, he is confident to get the slot. In so doing, he said he would bring more development to the zone and to Niger state in general. NNL.
