By Kabiru Ibrahim Funtua (Katsina State Correspondent, in Daura)
Contrary to rumour making rounds in some parts of Northern Nigeria that President Muhammadu Buhari may not vote for his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), as a result of his alleged perceived opposition to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu candidacy, the President publicly displayed his ballot paper to show that he, indeed, voted for his party's presidential candidate.
Buhari who arrived his polling unit at Ward A, Sarkin Yara Polling Unit 003, in his home town, Daura, in Katsina State at about 10:25am in company of his wife and Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari and some family members, casted his votes and publicly went ahead to display his ballot paper to show that he actually voted for his party APC and it's presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Rumour was rife before today's Presidential and National Assembly elections that Buhari might vote for the Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi, as against his party candidate (Tinubu) and fellow fulani Northerner and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. But it was all mere rumour, no substance!
Buhari's action at the polling unit was viewed by most APC members and voters as rare show of party loyalty and support. Despite the fact that the President had moved round the country to campaign for his party and it's candidate, some of the APC members including governors on the platform of the party who are angry over the new naira re-design, were of the view that Buhari was not actually with Tinubu in this election.
Speaking shortly after performing his civic responsibility, President Buhari explained that he had never sabotaged the candidacy of Asiwaju Tinubu and to prove this, he chose to display his tumb printed ballot paper to the public and to the media at the polling booth that his support for his party APC and it's presidential candidate has never been in doubt.
The President however lamented that it was unfortunate that his party (APC) only managed to produce a single female gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa State out of 36 states in the Federation in the person of Senator Aisha Binani. Buhari wished that the APC delegates in the states had considered more female candidates for governorship position.
Buhari said thus: “I am very impressed because I have seen how the people turned up. I am very impressed and very happy. Well, the candidate I voted for I have already mentioned him in many states in Nasarawa, Katsina and Sokoto. All over the places I mentioned my favourite candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, and I believe my constituency will elect him 100 per cent".
Buhari who was visibly elated at the peaceful manner in which the election was going on, however advised Nigerians not to joke with their votes. He urged them to insist that their votes count in this election.
“Nigerians should make sure that they are respected; that means that the candidate they want to vote for they are allowed to vote for him. It is a pity there is only one female candidate from Adamawa State, so the electorate should kindly follow our party,’’ he added.
Buhari whose name was not in the ballot paper of the Presidential election for the first time since 2003 general elections that he first contested for the nation's top job, said: “It is very exciting. I look at those who are competing, and some of them are so agitated, and they didn’t know that I tried three times and ended up in the Supreme Court three times. The fourth time I said ‘God dey’ and God sent technology, Permanent Voters Card, so no fraudulent person can claim anything". NNL.
