Katsina Gov: I Have no ‘Anointed Candidate’ in Primaries

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari Friday debunked speculations that he has “anointed candidates” at the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in the state, vowing not to do anything contrary to the constitution of the party.

Some APC stalwarts in the state, including some caretaker committee chairmen of the 34 local government areas of the state were said to have been moving round informing the electorate that the governor has interest in certain candidates, hence the need to vote for them.

Governor Masari, whose position was made known to newsmen in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, said the government has not interfered with the primary but allowed the process to take its natural course, with delegates going about their business according to their conviction and conscience without hindrance from any quarters.

According to the statement, “It has come to the attention of Katsina State Government that some party officials and local government sole administrators have gone around the state telling electoral delegates that the governor is interested in certain aspirants, and the delegates are therefore directed to vote for them during the ongoing primary elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, and the purpose of putting the records straight, Katsina State Government will never do anything contrary to the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is very clear about how party activities, including primary elections, are to be conducted.”

It added: “It is important to note that political office seekers, especially those who know that they stand little chance of victory, will go to any length to rubbish the process even before it commences. Another popular ploy employed by weak aspirants is to drop names, claiming to be the anointed choice of the powers above.”

Masari in the statement admonished aspirants and other interested parties to be wary of such opportunity seekers, urging stakeholders to disregard any party or government official who tells them to do anything contrary to the constitution of APC.