Plateau Senatorial by-election: Aspirant steps down amid threats to supporters

By Moses Mark

One of the strong aspirant of the Plateau South Senatorial bye-election slated for 31st October, 2020 under the Platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Nanven Nimfel has stepped down his Senatorial ambition expressing lack of fairness in the party and alleged threat to his supporters.

Hon. Nimfel who is currently the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase in a Press Statement signed by his Media aide Mr Tahven Luther and made available to Journalists in Jos on Tuesday night said the preparation for the primary elections fixed for 5th September, 2020 lacks freeness and fairness and has to step down from the race.

It would be recalled that the Plateau South Senatorial seat became vacant after the death of Late Senator Ignatius Longjan in February 2020.

However, Governor Simon Lalong is said to have adopted the only female aspirant, Professor Nora Daduut from Quan-Pan Local Government as preferred candidate ahead of the Plateau South Senatorial bye election to replace late Sen. Longjan and complete the remaining three years in the Senate for the slot of the LGC.

While Hon. Nanven Nimfel hails from Wase Local Government Area of Plateau South Senatorial District and has never produced a Senator since 1999.

Nimfel in the Statement urged all his supporters to remain calm, not to defeat, but remains in the APC and support whoever emerges at the end of primaries slated for 5th September, 2020.

“Our principal, Hon. Nanven Nimfel had After due consideration of the political atmosphere decided to suspend his campaign and all affairs of sorts for the Plateau South senatorial by-election, in taking this decision, he took into consideration the following facts:

“That in the 2018 senatorial primary elections, all political arsenals fair and fowl were directed at stopping him which made the primaries to last an unprecedented 4 days for the first time in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

“He has watched with critical concern the grave threat given to his supporters particularly those holding party and political offices.

“The preparation for the primary lacks freeness and fairness, for instance after purchasing and duly completing the nomination form, announcement were made by the state party chairman that only three candidates were in the race excluding him (Hon. Nanven Nimfel), before the date of the screening, false statements were deliberately made alluding to his disqualification by the screening committee even before the screening took place”.

Hon. Nimfel however, express his profound gratitude to the delegates that fervently supported him and had wished that the affairs of the Senatorial District will be done in such a free and fair manner where all local government within the senatorial district will have a sense of belonging.