The declaration of the Niger East Senate  by-election as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was an anti-climax in a political contest symbolic of what is to come in the months ahead.

THE two major combatants were Nuhu Zagbayi, the immediate past deputy governor of Niger State who served under the Abdulkadir Kure administration and David Umaru, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, a veteran political combatant in the state.

In the inconclusive results declared by INEC at the weekend APC was credited with 84,689 votes, APGA, 2099, PDP, 89,640 while SDP was scored 460 votes out of the 199,790 voters accredited voters.

David Umaru

The by-election was forced by the death three months ago of the Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, a former labour activist cum political veteran who had occupied the seat since 2007.

Political veteran

Senator Kuta had before his death reportedly been engaged in a subtle war political war with Governor Babangida Aliyu following allegations that the outgoing governor was scheming to take over the seat from Kuta in the 2015 election.

However, the unexpected death of Kuta on June 12, 2014 remarkably reshaped the political configuration of the state and the 2015 Senate race.

Given that Governor Aliyu could not step down to contest for a seat that would be given up in less than a year, it was suggested that the governor would draft an ally to fill in the position for him pending the end of his tenure in 2015. Whether the governor thought of that or not, the PDP after five meetings produced what it described as its consensus candidate in the person of Zagbayi. In presenting Zagbayi, the PDP state deputy, Barrister Tanko Beji,

“Why we chose him is because he is the best; he is our preferred candidate; he is the candidate of the people; he is a politician; he is a gentleman; he is everything you think of. Dr Shem is our candidate.

“Am telling you that a consensus has been reached by the party; therefore no other candidate can emerge as far as PDP is concerned because party elders and organs have met and agreed on Dr Shem and has been stamped,” he told a national newspaper.

But there were, however, speculations that the large influence of the presidency was brought to bear on the PDP in Niger State to draft Zagbayi, who is reported to have been a close friend of President Goodluck Jonathan when both men served as deputy governors.

Nuhu Zagbayi

While the PDP produced Zagbayi, the APC presented Umaru, a dogged politician who had contested the governorship of the state on the banner of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. Umaru who is reported to have strong network on the ground was largely endorsed by former President Ibrahim Babangida who described him as a son in the days ahead of the election.

It was thus not surprising that the Senate by-election was seen as figurative of what to come in the forthcoming general election. It was especially so, given the profile of both candidates who are strong members of their different political parties.

Remarkably, in a religion sensitive state like Niger, religion was removed as a factor given that both men are Christians and members of the same church, the Evangelical Church of West Africa, ECWA.

In an election which the PDP easily swept to victory in 2011, the mobilisation of support for Umaru last weekend was indicative of the strong challenge that the party could face when push comes to shove in 2015.

Meanwhile, both parties have again resorted to the trenches ahead of the conclusion scheduled for this weekend.