BENUE: We won’t challenge outcome of polls — SUSWAM

By Wole Mosadomi & Peter Duru

MINNA—The Niger State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Umar Nasko has conceded defeat to the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate Abubakar Sani Bello (Abu Lolo).

This was even as Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has promised that the PDP  would not challenge the outcome of last Saturday’s governorship election won by Dr. Samuel Ortom of the APC.

Suswam spoke yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, when he received Dr. Ortom and his delegation in audience, saying that the decision was to allow the in-coming administration a better platform to embark on genuine reconciliation.

However, Nasko said yesterday in a statement signed by Yahaya Mohammed Usman, a member of his campaign team that he conceded defeat because it was the peoples’ right to decide who should win.

*Ortom

Usman said “for now, the people of our dear state have decided and I submit to their decision which though not in my favour but for my co-contestant and brother Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of the APC. I believe he has the interest of the state just like me, at heart.

“My hearty congratulations goes to Abu Lolo and his team for the success recorded. I urge him to always put the interest of the people and the state first above all.”

Nasko while commending Niger State people for the support given to him, called on all to give the incoming government maximum cooperation that will lead to his success.

He said that his aspiration was borne out of a fervent desire to move the state to the next level of development following a robust foundation that had been laid by the previous democratic dispensation.

According to him “I have worked tirelessly and timelessly too! For these, I will not despair, I will continue to do this even outside government”.

Meanwhile, Suswam said, “for the unity of our state and the people, we have decided that we are not going to the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the polls irrespective of any noticeable irregularities that was recorded at the election.

“Before now we had so much speculations that there would never be a day like this, but people forget easily that an election is a contest that cannot be war but a game.

“I therefore enjoin every person to see the victory of Dr. Ortom as the will of God for the people because I strongly believe that he is capable of taking the state to another level.”