By: Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse.

A former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State and the party’s House of Representatives aspirant for the Auyo/Hadejia/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency, Alhaji Umar Danjani, has dismissed claims that the PDP lacks a presidential candidate, describing those making such assertions as politically ignorant.

Speaking to journalists at his residence in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, Danjani said his commitment to defending the rights of ordinary Nigerians was inherited from his late father, whom he described as a lifelong advocate for the poor.

According to him, he has spent more than 25 years fighting for the welfare and protection of ordinary citizens across Nigeria. He expressed sympathy for Nigerians, saying many are suffering from insecurity, hunger, poverty, and economic hardship.

He said people who genuinely care about the masses have a responsibility to stand up against oppression and work toward restoring the rights of Nigerians. Danjani added that his political struggle is against injustice and expressed confidence that the opposition would eventually succeed in liberating the people from what he described as oppressive and dishonest leadership.

Danjani criticized some politicians in Jigawa State whom he accused of attempting to discredit the PDP by claiming the party has no presidential candidate. He said such statements were false and reflected a lack of political understanding.
He maintained that the PDP has a recognized governorship candidate in Jigawa State, insisting that there is only one candidate, Mustapha Sule Lamido, and rejecting claims that the party has multiple governorship candidates.

He also dismissed attempts to associate Tanimu Turaki with the PDP, saying Turaki is not a member of the party. Danjani stated that the party’s leadership is well known and accused some politicians, including Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, of making misleading statements about the PDP.

According to him, allegations that the PDP lacks candidates are intended to tarnish the party’s image. He reiterated that Mustapha Sule Lamido remains the party’s sole governorship candidate in Jigawa State.

Reflecting on the 2023 governorship election, Danjani alleged that the election was manipulated against the PDP. He claimed that Mustapha Sule Lamido actually won the election and defeated Governor Umar Namadi by 20,049 votes, but that the outcome was allegedly altered through the use of state power. These allegations have not been established by a court of law.

He expressed confidence that such alleged manipulation would not happen again, saying the people of Jigawa State would resist any attempt to undermine their votes. He further claimed that even in the Hadejia Emirate, where Governor Namadi comes from, voters would not support him for a second term. Danjani argued that the governor had failed to deliver meaningful development, particularly for the people of Dutse and other communities facing economic challenges.

Danjani also claimed that many religious leaders who previously supported the APC had withdrawn their support, adding that many elders across the state had also distanced themselves from Governor Namadi’s administration. He alleged that the government had sidelined respected elders while relying mainly on a small group of young political loyalists. According to him, the PDP remains the preferred choice of many Jigawa residents because of what they consider its past achievements.

He expressed concern over what he described as poor leadership and lack of fairness by the APC-led administration in Jigawa State. He insisted that the PDP would closely monitor future elections to ensure that every vote counts and that election results accurately reflect the will of the people.

Commenting on the governorship candidate of the ADC, Sabo Mohammed Nakudu, Danjani dismissed him as a serious political challenger. He alleged that Nakudu was politically aligned with the APC and predicted that he would not win the governorship election, claiming he would struggle to secure victory even in his hometown of Birnin Kudu.

Danjani further argued that the PDP’s political structure remains stronger than those of its rivals in Jigawa State. He criticized politicians such as Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, accusing them of engaging in deception and political propaganda. He claimed Ringim had failed to win elections in his own political base and therefore lacked the credibility to criticize the PDP.

According to Danjani, Aminu Ringim’s criticism of the PDP is motivated by political frustration. He also alleged that the APC and ADC pursue similar political agendas and accused both parties of lacking a genuine commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.

He concluded by saying that Nigerians have become more politically aware and are capable of judging political parties based on their performance. He expressed confidence that the PDP would regain positions it believes were unfairly lost in previous elections.

This version is written in standard English and follows a balanced newspaper style by clearly attributing allegations and opinions to the speaker rather than presenting them as established facts.