Gov. Aliyu Babangida of Niger said on Thursday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the general elections in spite of increased propaganda from opposition parties.
Babangida said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.
According to him, the PDP has no problem winning the elections, both at the gubernatorial and presidential level.
“Believe me, I have no problem. While it may be tougher this time around, because of the confederation, but believe me, PDP will win Niger State without any hesitation, and I have no problem with that.
“I don’t even think twice about it. When people are very good in propaganda, sometime, they even come to believe their own propaganda.
“But believe me, we have no problem in Niger State as far as PDP is concerned.”
The governor, who acknowledged that the PDP made some forgivable mistakes during its primaries, said many of those who defected from the party would come back after the elections.
He said the postponement of the general elections had provided the party an opportunity to reconcile with aggrieved members.
“There are, may be, places where we have a few problems, particularly where people might have felt aggrieved because of the way and manner the primaries were conducted.
“But, believe me, we are doing extremely well particularly, with this time frame that has been extended.
“It has given us an opportunity to reconcile with all those who we can reconcile with. There are some who may be bitter enough, may be until after elections before they decide to come back.
“Many of them who had left, the moment we win back our seats, they will all come back again.’’
On the use of card reader during the general elections, Babangida expressed doubt over the effectiveness of the machine.
Commenting on the friction between him and his deputy, the governor said that the differences had since been reconciled.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been a face-off between the governor and his deputy, Musa Ibeto, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in February.