Umar Nasko, the Chief of Staff to former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Saturday presented his letter of intent to run for governor under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party in Niger state.

Over 2,000 supporters defied the heavy downpour in Minna, the state Capital to march alongside the aspirant to the state PDP Secretariat, singing, and chanting praises for Nasko.

Our correspondent observed that the situation resulted into heavy traffic jam of the whole area and also obstructed peoples movement.

Nasko in his remarks maintained that he would do only one term to respect the zoning formula put in place by the founders of the PDP in the state in 1998, adding that in 2023, the seat will go to zone A.

The former gubernatorial candidate in 2015  warned that anyone, who wants to truncate the zoning system wants to destroy the state, “the zoning formula must stand to give every part of the state opportunity to participate in the governance of the state.”

Nasko who promised to spend four years in the office if elected as governor of Niger state come 2019, declared that he will not be part of aspirants that would jeopardize the zoning formula.

When asked to assess the All Progressives Congress-led government of Abubakar Bello, Nasko said, “my assessment of him is that if electorates vote him in again, it means that he is doing well but if they do not vote him in 2019, it means I’m better than him.”

The state PDP Chairman,  Tanko Beji, in his remarks, assured all new and old members of the party of equal opportunities in the run-up to the state party convention.

“Nobody will be accorded undue favouritism, all the aspirants will be given equal treatment”. – Punch

– Aug. 25, 2018 @ 15:47 GMT |