By Andrew Ajijah, Jos
Plateau state chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Rufus Bature has revealed that eight aspirants of the political party have bought forms to contest the forthcoming by-election at Jos North/Bassa Federal constituency.
Mr. Bature, a former secretary to the Plateau state government revealed this in an interview with journalists in his office at the party secretariat on Wednesday, while speaking on the preparedness of the party to reclaim its lost legislative position at the national assembly.
It will be recalled that the deceased lawmaker at the Federal House of Representatives for Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency Mr. Haruna Maitala who died in a ghastly motor accident along Abuja, Jos road about a year ago, was elected on the platform of the APC.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has fixed the 26th of February 2022 to conduct the bye-election to fill in the vacancy created through the demise of the federal lawmaker.
Similarly, INEC has also fixed the same date for the conduct of the bye-election at Pankshin South state sonstituency to replace the members who died recently from an undisclosed ailments at Jos University Teaching Hospital.
The APC chairman in Plateau state told journalists that three APC members have bought forms to succeed the deceased state legislator.
Mr. Bature, who contested Plateau North senatorial seat in the 2019 general election, noted that primaries of the eleven APC aspirants for the by-elections will hold next week.
“As we speak, those who bought forms for the bye-election are being screened in Abuja, party primaries will hold next week.”
The APC chairman debunked insinuations making round that the party has pinpointed an aspirant to be given support for the bye-election for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.
“I’m not aware of any report of a committee that has endorsed an aspirant as APC candidate for the forthcoming Jos North/Bassa by-election.”
According to him, APC under the leadership of Governor Simon Lalong has fulfilled its mandate to the people.
“APC came from nowhere to somewhere, by the time the ongoing projects are completed, Lalong would surpass his successors,” he explained.
On the forthcoming National convention of the APC, Mr. Rufus Bature said Plateau APC shall support the most popular candidate that the party desires.
