Niger PDP endorse consensus candidate for 2023 governorship election

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Niger State Chapter has endorsed former commissioner for Local government, community development and chieftaincy affairs, Isah Liman Kantigi, as its choice for the 2023 governorship election.

Kantigi’s endorsement for the position was disclosed after a stakeholders meeting in the Niger south Senatorial district where the PDP had zoned the election of the next governor.

Our correspondent gathered that his candidacy was unanimously endorsed ahead of other candidates.

The former commissioner’s endorsement has laid the aspirations of other governortorial aspirations to rest. Some of them include former Minister of Sports, Mr. Abdulraham Gimba, former Secretary to the State Government, Ndako Kpaki, former member of the House of Representstive, Sani Kutigi and former Director, Department of Petroleum Resources(DPR), Isah Jankara.

It was learnt that all the aspirants were in attendance when the report of the zoning committee was presented to the leadership of the party in the state and they all accepted the outcome of the meeting.

Findings also revealed that Jankara who recently picked the governorship expression of interest and nomination forms was disqualified from the race because the Lapai Emirate Council he hailed from had produced former governor Abdulkadir Kure who served for eight years.

Similarly, all other aspirants and leaders of the party from the two other zones backed the decision and endorsed Kantigi except Kutigi who reportedly rejected the decision of the party.

A source closed to the party who preferred anonymous told The Guardian that the leadership of the PDP will stand by its decision on a consensus candidate and advised Kutigi not to waste his money purchasing the form.

Niger State PDP Chairman Tanko Beji could not be reach for comment but members of the State Executive Council confirmed the decision of the party to present a consensus gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 election.