Niger State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Niger East Senatorial candidate, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has conceded defeat to the Senator-elect for the zone, Barrister David Umaru. He was defeated at the last Saturday National Assembly polls by Umaru with over 170,000 votes.
Aliyu who spoke on Wednesday in Minna before a state executive council meeting said he has been calling the Senator Elect to congratulate him but his calls and text messages have gone unanswered.
“I have already conceded defeat to Barrister David Umaru. I have called Umaru’s number after he was declared about seven times but he did not pick. I sent a text saying ‘this is the Chief Servant calling, please pick’ and I have not received a reply by now.
“I have no qualms about the defeat. I did not see my defeat as an insult to my person but as God’s will.”
Aliyu commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for paying attention to details and advised the body to appreciate the shortcomings in the last election and work towards correcting it.
He also applauded the gentleman approach of President Goodluck Jonathan in congratulating the President-elect adding that his action doused whatever tension that was on ground during the collation of the results.
“President Jonathan’s approach doused whatever tension has been created. It worked to smoothen whatever rough edge the election would have created. We hope that the transition will be smooth and everyone will see a friendly handover.”