APC coordinator urges unity after Tinubu wins Bauchi primary

Ali Pate, the All Progressives Congress presidential primary election coordinator in Bauchi State, called for unity among party members following the primaries. Pate, who also serves as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stressed the importance of reconciliation between victorious aspirants and those who did not succeed.

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Politics is about participation and competition. When you compete, you can win or you may not win. I have contested before, not once, not twice, not three times, four times, and I was not successful in those elections.

"Politics is about participation and competition. When you compete, you can win or you may not win," Pate stated, drawing from his own past electoral experiences. He advised party members who failed to secure tickets to remain committed to the APC, highlighting that elective office is just one avenue for service and that the party offers other ways to reward loyalty.

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We have asked all members at all levels to reach out to those who participated with them and try to reconcile, show respect to each other and come together as one family.

Pate announced President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the APC presidential primary in Bauchi State, securing 156,541 votes against Stanley Osifo's 2,650. The election involved 178,414 registered APC members across the state's 20 local government areas through a direct primary process.

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If you don’t get it today, you can support whoever gets it, and you may get another opportunity in the future. The attitude of saying ‘if I don’t get it, then nobody should get it’ will only make society suffer.

"We have asked all members at all levels to reach out to those who participated with them and try to reconcile, show respect to each other and come together as one family," Pate said. He cautioned against actions fueled by anger or disappointment, viewing power as a tool for societal service rather than a personal goal. The minister assured that the APC remains an inclusive platform and that efforts are underway to mend any rifts caused by the primary process.

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We have reached out to the aspirants who did not succeed and will continue to engage them to find ways to accommodate them. APC is an inclusive party. There is no limit to how far we will go to keep APC strong and united in Bauchi.