TARABA: Newcomers Will Be Busy Learning The Ropes

THOUGH the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates seeking election to the National Assembly emerged victorious, over 95 per cent of those who won the election are first timers.

While two of the three elected candidates for the three senatorial zones are new faces, five of the six elected members for the House of Representatives are newcomers.

The only old faces that emerged victorious in the elections are the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Bwacha, and the member representing Jalingo, Yorro and Zing federal constituency, Aminu Malle.

Bowing out of the House of Representatives for some new hands are the member representing Gashak, Sardauna and Kurmi, Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi; the member representing Ardo-Kola, Lau and Karim-Lamido Federal constituency, Jerry Mamwe, among others.

The development would no doubt affect proceedings when the 8th Assembly is finally inaugurated and commences sitting, as members, majority of whom are newcomers, would be busy acquainting themselves with legislative procedures.

Citing the surprising defeat of the Chief Whip of the National Assembly, Ishaka Bawa, at the just concluded polls, most of the newly elected parliamentarians said the defeat of Bawa would teach them a lot of lessons.

Bawa who was representing Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency at the House of Assembly, was defeated by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate. For allegedly failing to carry his people along, while he was at the National Assembly, the people of his constituency embarked on protest vote which led to his defeat in the hand of APGA’s, Danjuma Saidu.

To avoid a repeat of such humiliation, some of the newly elected National Assembly members who spoke to our reporter, vowed to carry their people along. One of them, under condition of anonymity, said: “With what happened to Bawa in last Saturday’s poll, I am now convinced that the power of change is indeed in the hands of the people.

I must confess to you that I am not only going to contribute positively at the floor of the House, but I will do my best not to be distant from the people of my constituency and the people of my state as a whole.

Who would have believed that APGA, of all political parties, which is not known in any part of the state, would win a ward election, talk little of National Assembly? “Had Bawa done his home work by going along with the people of his constituency and the party, I am sure that needed support would have been given to him to triumph in the poll.

But I reliably gathered that one of the reasons for his defeat was refusal to recognize both elders and youths of his area.” Overwhelmed by the victory, the APGA candidates said: “Even though my party (APGA) is not known in this state, my personal relationship with the people of this constituency and the state at large, won me this victory.”