ALHAJI Abubakar Ibrahim Idris the first runner-up in the recently conducted Kogi PDP governorship primary election, has said that is under pressure to concede defeat as he called on his supporters to remain loyal and committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement issued which copy was made available to Nigerian Tribune in Lokoja on Thursday, confirmed that he has been under pressure to concede defeat and support the candidate of the party for the November 16 election, Engr. Musa Wada.
He explained that his decision to challenge the process and outcome of the primary election was borne out of the wishes of his teeming supporters.
Idris called for patience as his quest for justice is for the overall good of the party, in the long run.
“Am I to say that I am not under pressure to concede defeat? Of course I am. But still, my main priority is the stand of majority of my supporters. Their wish is my command, hence the actions I will be taking in the days ahead are borne out of the wishes of my teeming supporters and not out of my own selfish desires.
“All through the run-up to the Primary election, I said it on various fora and media that I will concede defeat if I lose, on the condition that my lose takes place under a free, fair and credible atmosphere.
“Sad enough, to the bewilderment and witness of all that were present in the stadium that night of the primary election during that shooting incident and were as well, very well informed witnesses of the later part of the election, the mode of the continuation and conclusion is enough to beat any imagination, how much more that of a contestant in the said election.
“Having consulted with my leaders, stakeholders and a good number of my supporters, I have decided to seek redress before the appropriate authorities. I simply want legal interpretation of how the election was concluded. I simply want to lay possible claims within the ambits of the law, and nothing more.
“I love Kogi State, I love PDP, I love the PDP in Kogi State. I do not intend that while I am seeking redress before the appropriate authorities, that the Governorship campaigns of the Party be affected negatively in any way.
“I would simply want my grievances to be addressed and if till the end of this my journey of seeking redress, the appropriate authorities and judges decide that I have no case, then I will very quickly without any further ado throw my weight, support, structure and all within my powers behind the currently-declared Governorship candidate of the Party for the November election.
“I appeal and counsel you my supporters; while I am away seeking justice, remain calm, support the good of PDP, do not think of leaving the Party, stay and support the winning chance of the Party in November. The PDP is our own, any other Party aside PDP will do Kogi State no good, aside more suffering which our people cannot endure anymore and need PDP to return back to power to continue it’s good works over their lives as a people,” the statement read.
