The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has entered into an accord with the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election, with Alhaji Umaru Akwe Doma, the ZLP guber candidate, stepping down for incumbent Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Alhaji Doma, son of a former governor of the state, the late Aliyu Akwe Doma, announced his decision to jettison his ambition to govern Nasarawa State, in support of the governorship candidate of the APC, at a ceremony in Doma, on Wednesday.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the event, Umar Akwe Doma said, having consulted widely with stakeholders in tune with the Nasarawa project, he has decided to step down his aspiration to govern the state for now, in support of the governorship candidate of the ruling APC, Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
According to the ZLP guber candidate, though the decision was a difficult one, it was in the best interest of the generality of the people of the state.
Doma pointed out that, presently, Nasarawa State is at a threshold that requires sacrifice from all well meaning citizens of the state.
“Where we are today, is the crystallization of efforts, interactions and engagement by various stakeholders in the Nasarawa State project. As the gubernatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party I have the honour to interact with various stakeholders as to where Nasarawa State ought to be.
“I know what it means to be governor of Nasarawa State. But I don’t have to be governor to contribute to the development of the state, it’s unity and progress.
“I have consulted widely, broadly across the length and breath of Nasarawa State, particularly those who are in tune with the Nasarawa project and I have come to the inevitable conclusion that, it’s in the best interest of the generality of the people of Nasarawa State to step my aspiration down.
“The decision to step this aspiration did not come very easy because of the contributions of several of our supporters, stakeholders and particularly women, towards this aspiration. ZLP is entering into an accord with the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Sule,” he stated.
Doma however added that, the accord with the APC is only for the governirship election and did not extend to the state House of Assembly election.
While calling on Governor Sule to extend dividends of democracy to parts of Doma Local Government Area, the ZLP guber candidate appreciated members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Young Progressives Party (YPP), for gracing the event.
In his remarks, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, thanked the ZLP guber candidate for stepping down for him in the Saturday governorship election.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity to recall his relationship with the late Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, who gave him his first job ever in government, having spent all his life in the private sector.
“I want to use this special occasion to express my great appreciation to my younger brother His Excellency, Umaru Akwe Doma. That is the reason why I insisted that I must be here today. Because it gives me an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
“For those who want to know. I have spent all my life in the private sector, the very first person ever to give me a job in government, was the Madaucin Doma. It’s an opportunity and a privilege to be here inside his home and to have the opportunity to pray for him, as I did by his grave. I have been able to get a reward for the act and I have been able to get my brother to step down for me,” he stated.
The Governor equally appreciated the guber candidates of the ADC, who stepped down for him a day before, as well as the support he is getting from the YPP.