2019 ELECTION: PDP WILL DEFEAT BUHARI WITH NORTH WEST CANDIDATE
Former governor of Kano State and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has suggested that it is possible for the party to defeat the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) and its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s presidential election if it fields a candidate from the North West geo-political zone.
The former governor declared that the PDP needs to take advantage of the population of the seven states of the North West geo-political zone considering the fact that politics is a game of number. Kwankwaso, who spoke with journalists at the weekend after picking his expression on of interest and presidential nomination forms at the PDP secretariat in Abuja, said that even though the party has zoned its presidential ticket to the north, it is essential to consider within the purview of the northern catchment area other factors such as voting pattern and the might of number in the emergence of its candidate.
“We are here as members of PDP to advise our leaders, our other stakeholders, especially the delegates on how to win election easily. By the grace of God, PDP will win the election in 2019, but I think if you are picking a candidate, try to consider the issue of numbers because politics is a game of number; this is not a game of quality or whatever, it is a game of numbers.
“The North West is also the most populous zone. If you look at it, the North West is roughly North East plus North Central; if you look at the figures as they stand now, it’s about 36 million. North West therefore, has more population than all these zones and when compared with any other zone in this country,” he said.
Buttressing his argument that the PDP has to field a candidate from the same zone as Buhari, he said that “from all indications, the APC will print only one form for one person and everybody knows where that person comers from.
“So, if you go and take from the other side, we are afraid that he or they may win as a result of sentiment or as a result of whatever feeling of people from that part of the country”.
Speaking on his chances of defeating Buhari should he win the PDP ticket, Kwankwaso said coming from Kano will give him an edge considering the voting population, saying that “if you come from Kano, Kano is the most populous city going by the last census and politics is a game of number”.
This apart, the former defence minister banks on hard work, determination and commitment, especially during his eight years tenure as governor in Kano state.
[DAILYTIMES]
