Isa Ashiru, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna state in the 2023 elections, says he had accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Kaduna governorship tussle in good faith.
Speaking in an interview with journalists on Monday in Kaduna, he said, “the Supreme Court is the last point of call, they gave their judgement, but to us, it is not justice.
“But I have taken it in good faith because I have gotten to the last bus stop and there’s nothing that I can do.
“I just left the party’s office where I met stakeholders and I told them to be law abiding.
“I told them not be discouraged because we are in politics not for ourselves but our state, given the opportunity. Now that this had happened, we will not be deterred.”
Ashiru and his party had challenged the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election won by Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His petition was dismissed from the election tribunal to the Supreme Court.
This is the second time he had lost the election. In 2019, he was defeated by former governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Responding to a question, Ashiru said, he is not done with politics yet, despite his defeat.
He said, “In politics whoever that says he’s done, is selfish. I am in politics not because of myself but the good people of Kaduna state. I am on and I will continue”.
He said the PDP did well during the election, having won the three senatorial seats in the state, 10 House of Representatives seats and 12 House of Assembly seats.
He called on PDP supporters to be peaceful during the bye-elections coming up on February 3, 2024
“I urged our supporters to be law abiding and remain consistence because PDP is still on ground and we have not lost the election but what transpired, we accept in good faith,” he said.
He said, “What has happened is not encouraging. We have to go back and embark on mass mobilization and sensitization to educate our electorate and let’s see how we can get things right. But it’s unfortunate.
Asked if he will accept hands of fellow from the governor, he said, “I am a Nigerian like any other person. I am a state citizen like the governor himself. If that is his wish, what is wrong in doing that?
“We are talking about Kaduna State and not Hon. Isa Ashiru or Senator Uba Sani.
Asked if he had congratulated the governor for emerging victorious, Ashiru responded “Who is to congratulate who?“
He thanked the media for support him and promised to work together as partners in progress for the peaceful co-existence of our state and Nigeria in general.
