Yerima Shettima declares Senate ambition, rejects ‘anointed candidate’ claims

Yerima Shettima, convener of the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Initiative (NSCI), has reaffirmed his intention to contest for the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat, dismissing reports of an “anointed candidate” within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as false and misleading.

Speaking to supporters today Friday in kaduna, Shettima insisted that he remains firmly in the race and urged party members not to be distracted by what he described as sponsored rumours aimed at creating confusion ahead of the party’s primaries.

“I want to state clearly that I am very much in the race. There is nothing like an anointed candidate. What we need is a level playing ground where the will of the people can prevail,” he said.

He expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to provide a level playing field for all aspirants, stressing the need for transparency, fairness and adherence to democratic principles within the party.

The senatorial aspirant called for the conduct of credible primaries that would allow party stakeholders to freely choose candidates based on competence and capacity to deliver effective representation.

“We must allow democracy to take its course. Let party members decide who represents them. That is the only way to strengthen confidence in our party,” he added.

Shettima cautioned party leadership and stakeholders against actions that could undermine internal democracy or erode public confidence in the APC, noting that the party’s strength lies in its ability to uphold the rule of law and the will of the people.

He maintained that while he remains optimistic about the party’s chances in future elections, it is critical that the right processes are followed to ensure unity and legitimacy.

On the issue of consensus candidacy, Shettima said any such arrangement must be inclusive and involve all aspirants.

“If the party opts for consensus, it must be done through consultation and agreement of all aspirants, not imposition,” he said.

He also pledged to abide by the outcome of the party primaries, provided the process is conducted in line with the party’s constitution and democratic norms.

“My commitment is to the party. If due process is followed, I will abide by the outcome and continue to support the APC,” he stated.

Shettima emphasised that his decision to join the race is driven by a desire to provide quality representation for the people of Kaduna Central, urging his supporters to remain calm.

He also called for continued support for President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani, expressing confidence in the party’s future.