News Investigators/ Niger State Governor. Umaru Bago, says his government will gazette the zoning system for all elective positions in the state.
The governor said this on Wednesday night during a strategic meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) critical stakeholders and aspirants in the state, held at the Hauwa Wali Multipurpose Hall, Government House, Minna.
He said the gazetted zoning system would allow for elective positions to fairly rotate across all the 25 local government areas of the state and ensure political stability.
He said that a public hearing would be held in that regard, stressing that no local government would be allowed to hold power for more than two terms.
“We are going to gazette zoning in Niger state. Even if that’s the only thing we are going to do before 2027.
“This is to allow power to revolve from local government to local government and from constituency to constituency, for peace in the state,” he said.
Mr Bago said that the Nigerian constitution does not stop anyone from contesting regardless of senatorial district, but that there is an understanding and zoning system that has been working well for the state.
He assured all contestants under the APC of a free, fair, and transparent direct primary election where consensus could not be reached.
Mr Bago applauded the aspirants who stepped down and embraced consensus, saying that the government would work closely with them and reward their sacrifices.
He said that discussions are still on with aspirants to build consensus to reduce crisis and acrimony and enjoined them not to bring thugs to disrupt the process or risk disqualification.
Speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the governor for his exemplary leadership that led to many stepping down on their ambitions.
He expressed confidence that the party primaries would be free of rancor and a model to other sub-nationals.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Niger Command, Adamu Elleman, cautioned aspirants and party members on the need to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the process.
He assured them of adequate security across all the 274 wards of the state adding that a peace accord would be signed.
The APC Zonal Chairman, North-Central, Mu’azu Rijau, and the State Chairman of the Party, Aminu Bobi, among other stakeholders, stressed the need for unity and peaceful primary elections.
Some of the aspirants, who stepped down from their ambitions, said their decisions were borne out of respect for Gov. Bago and his inclusive leadership in the state.
NAN
