The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Hon. Aliyu Bello, has called on aspirants who were unsuccessful in the party’s recently concluded primaries to emulate the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, by accepting the outcome in the interest of peace, unity, progress and the overall development of Nasarawa State.
Bello made the appeal on Monday when he led members of the APC State Working Committee on a thank-you and solidarity visit to the Speaker at his office in Lafia.
According to the APC Chairman, the visit was to appreciate Dr. Jatau for accepting the outcome of the APC primary election for the Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency in good faith and for remaining loyal to the party despite not emerging as the party’s candidate.
He described the Speaker’s conduct after the primaries as exemplary, noting that his public support for the APC, Governor Abdullahi Sule and all candidates who emerged victorious demonstrated political maturity, faith and commitment to the party.
“We came as a party, first to appreciate him for being a man of God, a man of faith and a man who believes in destiny. After the APC primaries, despite the outcome, the Speaker came out clearly to identify with the party, the Governor and all the party winners. It is something that needs to be appreciated,” Bello said.
He added that the visit was also to console the Speaker while commending him for placing the party’s unity above personal ambition.
Describing Dr. Jatau as a shining example of responsible leadership, Bello urged other aggrieved party members to follow his footsteps, stressing that electoral victories and defeats are part of the democratic process.
“The message is either you win or you lose. Some of them won at other times and others supported them. So we appeal that if you lose this time, tomorrow is another day. There are other positions at the state and federal levels that you can be considered for.
“So we are calling on those who lost during the party primaries to emulate the Speaker by accepting defeat in good faith,” he said.
The APC Chairman further noted that leadership comes from God and advised politicians against actions capable of overheating the political atmosphere.
Responding, Speaker Danladi Jatau expressed appreciation to the APC leadership for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of unity and solidarity within the party.
He said he had already accepted the outcome of the primaries as the will of God and remained committed to working for the success of the APC in future elections.
“Today, I received the State APC Chairman and other officials. They are here to appreciate me and also to console me over what happened during the APC primaries.
“I have accepted it, even in the Chamber, as the will of God. That is how it is supposed to be because leadership comes from God. I have moved on, and we should all move forward for the victory of the party,” the Speaker stated.
Dr. Jatau reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the APC and pledged to mobilise support for all the party’s candidates to ensure victory in the 2027 general elections.