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The governorship
candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Niger State, Abubakar
Bawa Bwari, has denied media announcements that he has stepped down for
the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in today’s
election.

Mr Bwari said there
have not been any merger talks between his party and the Congress for
Progressive Change and all such insinuations are false.

“They are the
handiwork of selfish people used to working for themselves. They held
an illegal meeting and proceeded to announce an illegal alliance that
has no foundation in truth,’’ he said.

The state
coordinator of his campaign organisation, Abubakar Magaji and other
officials of the party had earlier announced that Mr. Bwari was no
longer running.

NEXT learnt that at
a Sunday night meeting, Mr Magaji had impressed upon his candidate the
need to form an alliance with the CPC in order to defeat the ruling
party’s candidate, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

However, according
to a source at the meeting, Mr Bwari had insisted on running because
despite the poor showing of the ACN at the two previous elections, he
still fancied his chances.

The party chairman,
Isah Mokwa had reportedly told the candidate that if he refused to join
the alliance he will be going into the election without the support of
the party machinery.

A stalwart of the
party who preferred not to be named, said no party in the state can
defeat the PDP by itself and the only hope lied in such an alliance.

The source said
based on what he called ‘performance’ the CPC, which had already
produced a senator and members for the House of Representatives, has
the right to produce the governor in such an alliance.

Mr. Bwari however
said yesterday that, “I am not stepping down for anybody and has not
contemplated stepping down for anybody. I want all our supporters to
come out and vote en masse for the ACN tomorrow.’’

With the failure of the alliance, the chances of the incumbent who
had reportedly been worried by the pact have decidedly increased.
However, the race is still going to be a hard one between the PDP and
the CPC in Niger State.