​Kogi Guber Poll: Don’t Sell Your Votes, Abatemi-Usman Tells APC Delegates

A frontline aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC for the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has called on the party delegates for the primary poll holding this Saturday to reject the request by some contestants in the race to buy their votes.

Abatemi-Usman made the call in one of his various meetings with delegates and leaders of the party at the grassroots.

He implored the delegates to do a proper assessment of the 28 aspirants in the contest and vote for the best according their conscience without allowing anybody to deceive or influence them with money.

“Today, I come to you to ask for your votes as a governorship aspirant on the platform of our great party All Progressives Congress (APC). I come to you because you have something very important that I need you to assist me with at this point in time in the interest of our dear Kogi State.

I have come to ask you to give me a chance on August 29 to be the APC candidate and the privilege to become the Governor of Kogi State, so that together we can build a new Kogi; so that together we can salvage our dear state from the bondage it has been in the last 24 years of its creation. Let no one deceive you with money or any other form of inducement. Don’t sell your votes to anybody. Don’t surrender your cards to anybody. Your card is your weapon. Your vote is your power. You have to use it wisely,” Abatemi-Usman counseled.

He continued: “It is a fact that goes without saying that Kogi is the least developed among the 36 states in the country today. If you go to states that were created at the same time as Kogi, you will lament. I have come to ask you to give me the opportunity to change this terribly appalling and unpleasant situation we found ourselves. I have come here to meet and interact with you because I know the value of what you are holding in your hands. Those aspirants who sit in the comfort of their homes and summon you do not have regards for you. They don’t place any value on you. And that is because they believe they can buy you with money.

Any serious aspirant must come and present himself to the delegates in their domains, no matter his status. So, you must make a wise decision of choosing the right person on Saturday. I know I have the capacity, experience, network, strong will, boundless energy and youthfulness to take on this great task. We have manifold beautiful plans as contained in our manifesto to transform Kogi State and make it a place of pride for all of us.”

The governorship aspirant who has continued to receive declaration of support and endorsement from the delegates across the 21 local councils in the state, told them not to feel intimidated and apprehensive, as according to him, nobody can stop any delegate from voting on the day of primary election, as long as his or her name is in the authentic delegates’ list from the national headquarters of the APC.

He assured the delegates that the primary election would be transparent, free and fair, noting that APC is a responsible party with a good name to protect.

FROM MICHAEL JEGEDE
MEDIA AIDE TO SENATOR NURUDEEN ABATEMI-USMAN

KOGI STATE APC GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANT