I Will Not Return to APC, Says Ibeto

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Former Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa and a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Niger State Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto has vowed not to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) he left last month.

Ibeto’s remark followed speculations in the state that he was planted in the PDP and in the event of his winning on the platform, he would defect to the APC.

The aspirant, a former deputy governor of the state, told newsmen in Minna on Monday that:

“I have heard the rumour, I know what I want for myself and my state, I will not return to the APC after winning with the ticket of the PDP.

“I cannot see myself going back to APC, I will not return to APC,” Ibeto said emphatically.

“By next year, I will be 60 years of age I should not be seen as a person without principles. I am a straightforward individual, I do what I am convinced that I should do.”

Ibeto, who has inaugurated his gubernatorial campaign committee for the 2019 governorship race, was optimistic that he would win the PDP ticket and go ahead to become the next governor of Niger state.

He said he had reached out to two of the five PDP governorship aspirants in the state during which “we discussed how to go about our campaigns peacefully and without bitterness.

“The discussions with Alhaji Muazu Hannafi Sudan and Alhaji Dogonkoli were very fruitful, we did not discuss the issue of one person stepping down for another. “

He said that he would also meet with the remaining aspirants.

Asked if there was plan for a consensus candidate, Ibeto declared: “We have not reached that stage. When we get there, the elders of the party will take a decision”.

The former deputy governor took a swipe at the ruling APC government, especially as it concerned appointments into public offices.

“This administration is too sectional, we have to balance along religious and ethnic lines, they have divided us more

“We are already sitting on a ticking time bomb waiting to explode,” Ibeto declared but promised to correct the imbalance if he became governor.

Meanwhile, Ibeto has named a former Secretary to the Niger State government in the administration of ex-governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Alhaji Idris Ndako Kpaki, as the Director General of his campaign organisation.

He also appointed Alhaji Mohammed Saba, Alhaji Ibrahim Dikko Ahmed and Alhaji Gambo Ladan as the coordinators for each of the three zones in the state.