APC Must Respect Due Process, I Won’t Sell My Mandate – Senatorial Candidate Declares

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Taraba North, Kabiru Bello Bandawaire, has dismissed reports claiming that he has been replaced as the party’s flagbearer.

Bandawaire insisted that he remains the duly nominated candidate of the APC for the senatorial district and would not withdraw from the race.

Speaking on Saturday in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, he described reports that the party had substituted his name with that of the incumbent senator, Shuibu Isa Lau, as false and misleading.

Bandawaire said he had no intention of stepping down for any individual, maintaining that he was validly elected and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“I will not withdraw from the senatorial race to represent Taraba North Senatorial District. I am the candidate and will not step aside for any individual.

“I cannot sell out the mandate given to me by the people. I am not aware of any replacement, and the party has not communicated such a decision to me,” Bandawaire said.

Naija News reports that the APC candidate said the Electoral Act clearly provides the process for the substitution of candidates.

According to him, a duly nominated candidate can only be replaced after voluntarily withdrawing from the contest.

He said he had neither indicated any intention to withdraw from the race nor submitted any letter to the party expressing such a decision.

“I do not look like someone who will withdraw from the race, and that mandate remains mine. The party must respect due process,” he said.

Bandawaire described the alleged substitution as undemocratic, insisting that any replacement must comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He urged members of the party and his supporters in Taraba North to disregard the reports, saying his mandate remained intact.

“I wish to inform the people of Taraba that my name has not been replaced by anyone. I remain the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Taraba North,” he stated.