The presidential contest has taken another unexpected turn as Seta Caxton Ateki, candidate of the Liberal Alliance Party, has announced his withdrawal from the 12 October election in favour of Bello Bouba Maigari, leader of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP).
Presenting Bello Bouba as “the man of rupture” and “an experienced statesman capable of driving genuine change,” Seta Caxton Ateki called on his supporters to rally behind the former Prime Minister. The endorsement adds further momentum to Bello Bouba’s candidacy, just hours after Univers Party candidate Akere Muna also stood down in his favour.
Bello Bouba, who has been positioning himself as a consensus-builder, has pledged to form a government of national unity if elected.
“My priorities, if I am elected, will first be the formation of a broad-based government of union,” he told supporters.
“We must address the essential problems of our country: protecting and strengthening national unity, especially in the Anglophone regions, and dealing with security challenges in other areas such as the Far North.” he added
The UNDP candidate has also promised to convene an inclusive national dialogue within the first six months of his mandate, explicitly committing to engage political leaders from the conflict-hit Anglophone regions.
“We will even speak with leaders from troubled regions and consider releasing those willing to work with us to reach a broad consensus,” Bello Bouba said.
His proposals ranging from national unity to dialogue on the Anglophone crisis mirror parts of the platforms of several other candidates, but with two rival contenders now throwing their weight behind him, Bello Bouba is emerging as a focal point for opposition realignment in the closing stretch of the campaign.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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