Senator Sa’idu Alkali has emerged the All Progressives Congress Senatorial Candidate for Gombe North Senatorial District.
He emerged the winner after scoring 216, the highest votes cast, defeating his closest rival, Bala Bello Tinka, who scored 31 votes, while Haidar Aliyu Abubakar, scored 10 votes.
Senator Alkali is seeking for re-election and will now contest with former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party for the 2023 Senatorial election.
The Committee Chairman for the Senatorial Primary Selection of APC, Mr. Haruna Yakubu, said the election was keenly contested and peacefully conducted.
Although four aspirants secured the nomination forms, only three remained in the contest, while one of the contestants, Sa’ad Abubakar Abdullahi, withdrew from the race, on the grounds that no level playing field was set by the party for the aspirants.
A letter of withdrawal was written by Mr. Abdullahi to the Chairman, of the Senatorial Primary Selection Committee of the App Progressives Congress, on May 27, read by the Chairman of the Committee, Gombe North Senatorial District.
The Chairman, Mr. Haruna Yakubu, who read the letter to the delegates, said the former contestant was not comfortable with developments regarding the election.
“I wish to notify you of my withdrawal from Gombe North Senatorial contest, scheduled to hold 28th May, 2022 for peace to reign as a committed party man. From the way things are going, I noticed there is no level playing ground for the primary. Mr. Chairman, I wish you a hitch-free exercise, “ said the former aspirant.
Only one of the contestnat, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, Haidar Aliyu Abubakar and their agent were present, but neither Bala Bello Tinka or his agent was present to witness the election.
A total of 260 delegates, from 52 wards in the five local government areas of Gombe North Senatorial District, were accredited and also voted, but three of the voters were absent after being duly accredited.
Five delegates were selected form each of the five local government areas, with Dukku and Gombe Local Government Areas having 11 wards, while Kwami, Funa Kaye and Nafada have 10 wards each.
In his acceptance speech, Senator Alkali thanked the delegates who voted for him, as well as the party leadership for their support.
He also thanked his rival, Haidar Aliyu Abubakar for his support, despite not winning.
Lateefah Ibrahim
