23/05/2022
*OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE ON THE NEED TO ENSURE A FREE AND FAIR APC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN THE STATE*
18th May 2022
HE Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello
The Executive Governor of Niger State
Government House
Minna
Dear Mr. Governor
*THE NEED FOR FREE & FAIR APC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN NIGER STATE*
As His Excellency is aware, political activities in our State have reached a crescendo, as all the political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), prepare for their primary elections towards the 2023 National General Elections. The parties’ primary election is a key element in the overall electoral process in a democracy, especially the need for this process to be free, fair and transparent at all levels.
1. Your Excellency, while many of your associates and friends, as it is their right in a democracy, have openly declared their aspirant of preference amongst the APC Gubernatorial aspirants, you have always maintained at many private and public fora, including the most recent meeting of 17 May 2022 with the APC Gubernatorial aspirants, that you have no preferred candidate. You have continued to insist that you have left it to the electorates to decide your successor, and that your key interest is for APC to elect a candidate that is capable of winning the general elections for APC in Niger State.
2. Mr. Governor, we are much impressed with your declared stands on this matter, and we congratulate you on such a progressive stand on this critical element of our democracy.
3. However Sir, we wish to express our concern that some of your associates who have so openly declared their interests, may use their relationship with you and your government to deliberately misrepresent your position to the delegates and subvert the electoral process to achieve their own personal political and commercial interests. We would therefore respectfully request that you actively ensure that this doesn’t happen, by openly declaring your stand to your associates, government officials and the APC machinery in the state.
4. Your Excellency, as the leader of APC in Niger State, we respectfully request that you use your good office to ensure that the forth-coming primary election is free, fair and transparent; and that delegates are allowed to make their choices without blackmail and intimidation from any quarters, including the operatives of the aspirants, government and political appointees, party officials, and others around the corridors of political power in the state.
5. Your Excellency the process of leadership recruitment and succession planning in Niger State is at a very precarious state. and Nigerlites will hold you responsible if you allow the process of the primary elections to be subverted.
6. Mr. Governor, as you are probably aware, the nuances on the street are not positive, and unfortunately in public affairs, perception is reality. We hope that you would debunk these perceptions by choosing to be on the right side of the political history of Niger State that is currently unfolding.
7. Finally, we would like to assure Your Excellency that we make this request in the interest of Niger State, and that of the future generations of Nigerlites because posterity will not forgive us if we fail to speak out.
While we look forward to your acceding to our request, please accept the assurances of our respect, goodwill and highest regards.
Yours faithfully
*CONCERNED APC STAKEHOLDERS OF NIGER STATE*
CC:
Niger State Senior Stakeholders
Niger State Traditional Rulers
Speaker and Members of State House of Assembly
Members of the NASS from Niger State
Niger State APC Chairman
Vice Chairman, APC North Central Zone
National Chairman, APC
