Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has dedicated the victory of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) in the Ni­ger East Senatorial District by-election to the people of the state.
Aliyu, who made this known in a state broadcast in Minna, said the victory of Dr. Shem Nuhu over the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Umaru was a reflection of the confidence the people had in the party.
He expressed satisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the election, stating that de­spite the alleged use of thugs, a level-playing field was the major characteristic of the en­tire process.
“Let me thank you for your abiding faith in our party and for coming out to exercise your civic duty and responsi­bility even in the face of un­warranted provocation and in­timidation by some members of the opposition party, who mistook elite sentiments and sympathy for mass support. Electoral victories are not won by violent intimidation of the electorate but by records of performance and effective mobilisation of voters on the polling day.
“Let me also thank all the loyal and disciplined mem­bers of our party, who worked tirelessly to mobilise the elec­torate to do what they have always done for PDP – voting for us to win elections. My special appreciation goes to the PDP members in the Na­tional Assembly, who refused to behave like some prodi­gal sons of the party who are ready to bite the fingers that feed them, by proclaiming loyalty to the party in Abuja but working against the inter­est of the party at home, for their selfish desires,” he said.
The governor also charged the senator elect to pursue all the legislative agenda of the late Senator Dahiru Kuta, add­ing that the latter had already set the stage for him to con­solidate upon for Niger State and the entire country.
He also admonished Nuhu on security issues, insisting that he made it a priority in the discharge of his duty to the people. He also called on him to carry everybody along, adding that there were people who would want to cause trouble even when it would not change the outcome of the election.
Aliyu, while calling on the opposition to work with the winner of the by-election, ad­vised them against politics of blackmail, name-calling and brigandage. He said regardless of party platform, Niger State should be their major focus and not parochial party senti­ment or individual interest.

By-election: Aliyu dedicates victory to the people