JUST IN: Kaduna LP candidate dismisses rumour of working for APC

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Kaduna State, Hon. Jonathan Asake, has described as “mischievous” the rumour making the rounds that he is working for the All Progressives Congress to win the forthcoming election in the state.

The governorship hopeful noted that there was no truth in the allegation that he was in the race to scuttle the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

Asake, who was a former national president of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, added that his aspiration must not be taken as a mere joke, maintaining that he was optimistic to be the next occupant of Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna.

A statement by the media aide to the governorship hopeful, James Swam, in Kaduna on Wednesday quoted his principal to have stated this when he met with the political committee panel of SOKAPU on Tuesday ahead of the 2023 poll.

Asake said if elected as governor he would defend the people of the state with all his strength, adding that he would run an inclusive administration “where appointments, employments, economic opportunities will be shared based on equity and fairness.”

He added, “My aspiration to be a governor is not a joke. I am a serious contender for the throne. I want to be the governor. When I become governor I will stand and defend the people of the state with all my strength.

“I have heard the strange rumour that I only want to block the PDP for the APC to win. But that is not true. If the PDP truly believed that the zone is theirs why have they not zoned the party’s governorship ticket to the zone since 1999?

“Now that the LP has graciously zoned the office of the governor to the southern senatorial zone, the PDP has suddenly become jittery and they are spreading disinformation.

“But I am undeterred by this mischief. I am focused on winning and by the grace of God, I will become the next governor of Kaduna State.”

The PUNCH reported that Asake had said that he officially stepped down to join the governorship race to answer the clarion call of the majority of people to contest for the governorship seat come 2023.

“What you’ve been hearing is now confirmed that I have answered a clarion call by people and by the larger people of Kaduna State that I should contest for the governorship election come 2023,” he said.