By Ahmed Ahmed
A Group, Bauchi All Progressive Congress (APC) Faithful has urged New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) Governorship candidate, Sen. Halliru Jika to rejoin his former Party APC.
Our correspondent recall that Sen. Jika decamped from APC to NNPP after being defeated by retired Air Marshal Saddique Abubakr at APC Governorship primaries of the party , Jika later contested and became the flag bearer NNPP in the state.
Sen. Jika of NNPP came third with 60,496 votes at the 2023 general elections,
While APC’s retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who came second with 432,272 votes and the incumbent governor Bala Mohammed polled 525,280 votes to clinch the seat.
Mr Anas Mato, Coordinator of the group made the call at a News Briefing on Saturday in Bauchi, saying to call him back to the party was after due consultation with Stakeholders in the state.
He said after careful observation of the happenings in the party and contacts with some relevant and critical stakeholders, the leadership of this organization resolved to take decisions for the greater interest of the general public.
“To bring back Sen. Hallira Jika, of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District to rejoin his Party, APC for the interests of the party.
“Our decision to take these bold and important decisions at this critical moment of grief, follows careful reflection of what transpired in the recent weeks in the party over the leadership crisis in the state.
“We consider this decision as the right move for our great grant party APC to return to its position as the most popular party in the state,” he said
Mato noted that the internal crises in the party suspension and counter suspension and suspicions among party officials and members of anti party activities would damage the party structure.
“So we are committed to ensure that people with proven integrity and political relevance are in our party,if Jika’s return to the party, would change the narrative and is for the overall interests of the party.
“We are optimistic that his decision to defect to another party after the questionable party primaries, is not ancorectal with his interests to bring good governance and critical development projects, we are hoping this dream will be achieved when he returns to the party,” the coordinator said.
According to him, our priority at the moment is to bring all people to the project of building our great country under the able leadership of the President – Elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu and his Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shattima, which Sen Jika is a strong and close ally to the duo.
Considering his antecedents in the last eight years of his representation at the Green and Red Chambers of the National Assembly.
“The party needs him to give hope to our teeming party faithfuls, we hope Sen. Jika will listen to our collective call and rejoin APC for the interests of the party, state and the country at large.