Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has received over 2000 people from the Bassa ethnic group who declared their support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

Engineer Sule received the Bassa people and other defectors from other political parties including the PDP, LP and others, during the campaign rally organised in Nasarawa Local Government Area, on Tuesday.

Welcoming the Bassa people, as well as detectors from other political parties numbering over 1000, the Governor expressed appreciation with the mammoth crowd that turned out for the rally, from the reception at the palace of the Emir of Nasarawa, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, to the venue of the rally.

Engineer Sule expressed confidence that, with the massive turnout out at the rally, the people of Nasarawa Local Government Area, have once again demonstrated their readiness to deliver the APC in the coming election as they have done in the past.

He however used the opportunity to appeal to those seeking to become flagbearers of the party from the area, to remain law abiding and await the outcome of the ongoing court cases.

The Governor particularly urged the contending parties to understand that power comes from God, stressing that resorting to violence is never the best option.

“Violence cannot give power. We are united in the APC. We are seeing others leaving their party to come and join us because of the unity within our party. Any loyal member of the party will not seek to create crisis in the party,” he stated.

This is just as critical stakeholders from Nasarawa Local Government jettison their difference to unite in order to ensure the success of the APC in the coming election.

Senator Abubakar Sodangi made this known while delivering a goodwill message at the rally.

According to Sodangi, who doubles as the Chairman, Engr. A. A Sule/Dr. Akabe Campaign Council, assured the Governor that stakeholders from the council have since buried their differences to unite as one people under one political party.

“All the other critical stakeholders are now united and resolved to work together for the success of the party. We have taken the covenant to work together towards delivering the party in Nasarawa LG. Our women and youth have all agreed to work for your success in the coming election,” Sodangi stated.

Earlier, in a welcome address, Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Hon Mohammed Sani Ottoz, on behalf of the 15 electoral wards and 303 polling units of the council, appreciated Engineer Sule for his development strides in the state and Nasarawa LGA in particular.

Hon Ottoz particularly appreciated the Governor for his efforts to restore peace in the area, construct 25km road from Mararaba Udege to Udege and now extending it to Odu.

The people of Nasarawa LG also appreciated Engineer Sule for undertaking the construction of a modern market in Nasarawa town, initiating the conditional cash transfer aimed at alleviating the plight of the less privileged in the society, as well as his efforts towards delivering quality health care to the people.

Hon Ottoz added that, for these and more, the 15 electoral wards and 303 poling units making up Nasarawa Local Government Area, are ready to deliver their votes massively for the APC in the 2023 general election.

Also speaking, state Chairman of the APC, Hon. John Mamman, reiterated the commitment of party to stand behind Engineer Sule towards ensuring his reelection for a second term.

“For us as a party, we have and we will continue to pass vote of confidence on the person of Governor Sule to continue beyond 2023.

“The students of Nasarawa State have spoken and they have endorsed you. Traders association in Nasarawa State have spoken and they have endorsed you. The party did same. Your Excellency, all the people gathered here we will translate them to votes. It’s only in Nasarawa that we have 15 electoral wards and we know their strength and capability,” he assured.

The APC Chairman expressed appreciation with the massive turnout of people at the rally.

In a goodwill message, former secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Dr Zainab Abdulmumini, pointed out the 2023 general election is different from previous elections because of the deployment of technology.

Dr. Zainab used the opportunity to call on the people to ensure they get their voters card in order to be able to vote massively for the APC.

She expressed appreciation with the level of unity among all stakeholders of the party.

“This explains why in Nasarawa, everybody who is anybody, is here in this arena. Udege Development Area, Loko Development Area and Nasarawa district are all united. This mammoth crowd you see here is a testimony that we are all together and united,” she stated.

On his part, Mr Samson Daudu, one of the prominent community leaders of the Bassa people, who led his people to declare support and allegiance to the APC, announced that, the Bassas numbering 2000 are at the rally to be welcomed into the ruling party.

Daudu said the Bassas cutting across five local government areas of Nasarawa, Karu, Kokona and Doma, have a total of over 35, 000 votes, with a total number of registered voters numbering 75, 000 across the entire state, which they will deliver for the APC.

“The Bassas have reasoned and told our people wherever they are, to vote APC. They must vote A. A. Sule. They must vote Emmanuel Akabe. We have done it in Kogi State, we are doing it in Nasarawa State,” he stated.

Aishatu Aliyu, the APC woman leader in Nasarawa Local Government Area, who spoke on behalf of beneficiaries of Engineer Sule’s conditional cash transfer, said women in the area have formed cooperative societies, contributing the N5000 monthly stipend from which several women were able to establish economic ventures towards uplifting their standards of living.

As part of activities lined up for the campaign, Engineer Sule first paid homage at the palace of the Emir of Nasarawa, flagged off a free medical outreach at the palace, as well as commissioned an electrification project executed by the Nasarawa Local Government Area, in Ogapa.