Jumai, Ishaku Or Kente: Who Takes Gold In Taraba?

EVEN though only four governorship candidates are presently jostling for the number one position in Taraba state on the platform of four registered political parties in today’s governorship elections, only three out of them have shown seriousness in their quest to triumph during the exercise.

Most prominent among the candidates preparing to spring surprises at the poll are the Senator representing Taraba North, Alhassan Aisha Jumai who is the first female governorship candidate from the entire northern part of the country. Others are former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, and Chief David Sabo Kente, whom the people hold in high esteem following his massive contribution to the growth of the state and humanity at large.

While Senator Jumai is hoisting high the banner of the All Progress Congress (APC), Ishaku and Kente are respectively flying the flags of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Unlike in the just concluded presidential election where religion was a major yardstick, the reverse would no doubt be the case in today’s election as party platforms would not play vital roles but the contributions of the aspirants to the growth of the people and their states.

Eligible voters have signified their interests to vote for individuals based on their antecedents and not on political affiliations. Should that be the case, the Taraba state chapter of the ruling PDP would no doubt suffer casualties following the refusal of the party to allow internal democracy take its cause during the party’s primaries.

Though gradually gaining ground in the state, the party’s governorship candidate who was widely believed to have been imposed on the party by T.Y Danjuma, may not only find it tough in the poll, but would as well pave way for the opposition to the top. The wrangling in the party, which led to the denial of the former Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, both the party governorship ticket as well as the ticket for the senate for the northern senatorial zone of the state, also compelled majority of his teeming supporters to bow out of the party.

As beautiful as his programmes for the state are, the ill attitudes of some of the party stalwarts to the public may also affect the PDP come next Saturday. The victory of APC at the presidential polls would, to a large extent, boost the chances of APC in the state in the governorship election. Even when the PDP won the just concluded presidential election in the state and the seats of the three senatorial zones, the leadership of APC are very optimistic of producing the next governor in the state.

Citing ongoing plans by the PDP to compel traditional rulers to deliver their domains to PDP, and the alleged plans to use security operatives especially the military to rig the election in favour of PDP, the need for the authority assigned with the responsibility of organizing the election to desist from acts, capable of jeopardizing the polls, APC believed has become relevant. Anti party would no doubt be the order of the day, as some of the party chieftains who have worked round the clock to ensure victory for the President Goodluck Jonathan in the state would not tread the same path in the governorship election.

The chances of APC in the state is glaring as some members of the PDP who spoke to our reporter promised to vote against the PDP candidate following the maltreatments that was melted out on them during the party’s primary which was conducted at the party National Secretariat located in Wadata, Abuja.

Among PDP faithful that have cross carpet to opposition parties is the SDP governorship candidate in the state Chief David Sabo Kente, whose exit from PDP is massively threatening to expunge PDP from  the  state. Kente’s hands of friendship to the people irrespective of religion, ethnic and party affiliations has no doubt endeared him to the teeming people of the state.

The ill treatment metted on him while in the PDP compelled him to herald the presence of SDP into the state which has now become a thong in the flash for PDP, as some of the chieftains have continue to regret his exit from the party. Following the negative treatment doled out to him and some of the PDP members, SDP in the state has continue attract large number of sympathizers which may eventually made the party to have a smooth ride to the seat of power come this weekend.