The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress Grand Alliance, APGA, in Niger State, Khadija Abdullahi-Iya, has denied stepping down for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Umar Bago.
Mrs Iya, in a statement titled, ’Bago and his fear for the new bride of Niger State’, described her purported withdrawal from the race as “a lie from the pit of hell”.
She, however, said she wasn’t surprised by the fake news, given the kind of niche the APC candidate has built for himself.
“In response to the sustained dirty campaign of lies and calumny by Bago the APC gubernatorial candidate, in the first instance, permit me to make this clear:
“In the course of my foray into politics, I have been one person who believes so much in open and intellectual debate that will eventually lead to policy formulation and implementation for the good of the Niger people and this kind of discussion I usually engage myself with persons who are of sound mind and have, character, capacity and competence.
“I didn’t see it necessary to engage with any of these candidates who invited my team and I.
“It is on this premise that, when I started receiving calls from concerned APGA and Women supporters demanding to know how true it is about my stepping down for the APC gubernatorial candidate some weeks back, I refuse to take it seriously knowing the kind of person Bago is.
“But at this point, the campaigns of lies and calumny are taken to an octave thereby reaching its crescendo as such, the need to respond became inevitable because when lies lend to fly too much, people may intend it for the truth.
“On the 6th of March 2023, I read a post on Facebook by one Nazir Ahmed claiming to the effect that I Khadijah Abdullahi-lya the Gubernatorial Candidate of APGA alongside four other Gubernatorial candidates, and twelve political parties have collapsed our structures for Bago.
“Again, this is another lie from the pit of hell by Bago and his team yet this did not come to me as a surprise knowing the kind of reputation the APC Gubernatorial Candidate has niche for himself over time.
“What is more worrisome is that this same news was aired by a radio station without verifying the authenticity of such news as such the need to come open and make a rebuttal.
“To this end, I Khadijah Abdullahi lya the gubernatorial candidate of APGA unequivocally and without mincing words state that; I am fully in the race for the seat of Governor Niger state.
“I have committed so much time, passion and resources in engaging the people of Niger state cutting across all local government areas which most candidates have not done thereby given me and my team a clear and better grasp of the challenges the Niger people are going through and would not in any way betray the trust bestowed on me”.
While urging her supporters to dismiss the reports and remain optimistic of winning the March 18 governorship polls, the entrepreneur urged the radio station that aired the fake news to make rebuttals or risk sanctions by NBC.
