Former Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku has said that he is still in the race for the 2015 governorship race in Nasarawa State under the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP).
Maku made the clarification while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after appearing before the PDP governorship screening committee in Abuja on Sunday.
The minister, who was among other aspirants from the north central zone that were screened on Sunday, said he remained an ardent supporter of the PDP and would not defect to another party under any circumstances.
He dismissed reports that he was planning to run for the governorship seat in the state under the platform of the APC.
“I believe in the party, i believe that people should be in the party as a matter of ideology and principles.
“Political parties are not just platforms for elections, they are philosophical foundations for the construction of our own democratic infrastructure.
“As for me even if you test my DNA, it is PDP, Iam saying so because recently some of my opponents who are so afraid of me in Nasarawa State, who are scared of my popularity in the party, who are scared of my grassroost followership went and made my posters under APC, they even designed some billboards under APC and claimed that I have left PDP.
“The reason was because when we were rebuilding the party they left to other parties, when they came back the party was solid and we were every where.”
Maku expressed satisfaction with developments in the party in the state so far, stating that he would lead the party in the 2015 elections as the governorship candidate of the PDP.
According to Maku, “Iam very confident because it has been years of hard work, years of loyalty to the party, since 1999.
Maku said he has been a loyal party member and had never departed for a day, stressing that his service to the state in the past has prepared him better for the task ahead.
“I have served this party in different capacities, I was commissioner of information, deputy governor, i contested for the seat in 2007 some how I did not leave the party unlike others who migrated to other parties looking for platforms to contest.
“I am bringing an experience beginning from student unionism to a journalism, a development agent before going into politics where i served as a commissioner, deputy governor and a minister.
“If I go there Iwill be the unifying force, I will bring development to my people using my wealth of experience that i have gathered throughout these years of service to the nation, so i am ready to change my state.”
He said the ward congress went well in Nasarawa state, stressing that PDP was ready to return to power.
Governorship aspirants in the north central zone are being screened ahead of the governorship primary election on Dec. 8.
