David Umaru, a senator representing Niger East Senatorial District in the Senate, has said he will remain in the All Progressives Congress because of his relationship with President Muhammad Buhari.
Umaru who was sacked as the APC senatorial candidate for the February 16 general elections on Thursday by a High Court in Abuja said despite the crisis in the party before and after the primaries, he remained a foundation member of the party in Niger.
An Abuja High Court presided by Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo, nullified Umaru’s candidature and gave victory to Sani Musa.
Speaking with newsmen in Minna, he said apart from his relationship with Buhari, many other factors were considered, especially the interest of his constituents.
He said, “Since 2007, I have had a close relationship with President Buhari and I value that so much. We have mutual respect for each other and it will not be fair for me to leave the party where he is the leader.”
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters added that despite the frosty relationship between him and the Governor Abubakar Bello, it was impossible for him to abandon “a house I so much laboured to build.”
Umaru who said he had filed an appeal said the ruling was ‘not only erroneous but against the weight of evidence,’
He added, “I remain the bona fide candidate of the APC in the forthcoming senatorial election in Niger East senatorial district until the position of the Appeal court on the matter.”
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