2023: Taraba Race for number one seat by top contenders.

 

 

Emmauel Awari – Jallingo

 

Barely Ten months to the General Elections,  Governorship aspirants have commence efforts through different political parties to clinch to the number one seat of Taraba state.

 

About Seven aspirants have purchased nomination forms and indicate interest to fly the governorship flag under the platform of People’s Democratic Party PDP in Taraba state thought some of them may step down during Primaries.

 

It is gathered that same processes would be carry out  in the main opposition party, the All Progressive Congress APC and other political parties in the state.

 

Some of the contestants in the PDP  include Sen. Joel Danladi Ikenya who was elected to represent the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Senator for Taraba South  in 2007.

 

In  2011  he attempted for the Governorship seat, but was unsuccessful.

 

Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya was nominated as a ministerial nominee to replace Darius Ishaku who resigned to contest for the Governorship election in Taraba State. In January, he was appointed the Minister of Labour and Productivity till May 2015

 

Sen. Ikenya from Wukari local government area in the southern part of the state where the present governor Ishaku is held from may not be favored by zoning according to the party instructions, though he has chances of winning the party governorship ticket having been close to the grassroots and the structure of party for years.

 

Another PDP governorship aspirant is Demien Dodo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN who base in Abuja who is also from same Local Government with Joel Ikenya.

 

Some political analysts in the state while speaking over the declaration of the SAN to contest for the state governorship were rather confuse especially when posters for his ambition were displayed on the streets of Jalingo, Taraba state capital and other selected areas in the state.

 

The immediate past chairman of Taraba state  PDP Chief Victor Bala Kona,  who held from Ardo-Kola local government area in the northern part of the state is also fully in the contest.

 

He organize all the congresses of the party where all the ward, local government and state executives of the party were installed before handing over to his successor is hopeful of riding on the already established relationship with the delegates during the forthcoming PDP primary election.

 

According to sources, he is the wealthiest amongst other PDP gubernatorial aspirant in the state to execute his governorship ambition.

 

A source  reaveld  that  the enjoyed smooth relationship with Governor Darius Ishaku of the state long ago is now  suffering a set back, for the governor has recently hinted Kona to step down his governorship ambition.

 

This maybe connected to recent romance between the governor and the speaker Taraba State House of Assembly and member representing Lau state constituency Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini who was a close political associate to the Kona, he quietly traveled and secretly purchased the governorship nomination form in Abuja which is very unusual someone who is vying for the seat of a governor.

 

Kunini who is also from the northern zone of the state is said to be the preferred candidate of the governor among all the contenders, a source who refused to be quoted said Kunini bought his nomination form under the instructions of the governor.

 

Before the show of interest by Kunini, the former chairman Taraba State Universal Basic Education Mr. Hilkia  Buba Joda, from Karim local government in the northern part of the state was the first to have indicted interest to run for the ticket of PDP within the northern zone of the state.

 

Mafindi who also served as the chairman Taraba State Budget and Planing Commission under Governor Darius Ishaku was perceived to be an anointed candidate of the governor in the party.

 

A well polish gentle man who is determined to succeed in his political career has excellent records accross all the juicy positions he served within the last over 10 years of his services.

 

Prof. Jerom Nyame, a younger brother to former governor of Taraba state Jolly Nyame from Zing local government in the northern part of the state also purchase the PDP govership form to run for the seat.

 

Latest in the race is the Accountant General of the state Aminu Kotolo from Karim-Lamido local government area also in the northern part of the state.

 

Kotolo’s nomination form was directed be obtained by the state chairman of the party Col. Agbu Kefas at Wadata Plaza by Governor Darius.

 

Many media houses reported earlier that Kefas, the state PDP chairman bought governorship nomination form to contest for the seat,

 

In an interview with newsmen, he denied buying form for himself, but made no further comments on the issue.

 

A reliable source said  that Kefas bought the under the directives of the governor for Aminu Kotolo.

 

The source further said that the  form which PDP chairman bought at Wadata Plaza was for Aminu Kotolo not for himself, the form has been well filled under the instructions of the Governor, he has also directed that all should be done to ensure that Kotolo wins the governorship primaries.

 

Another source who spoke to our correspondent in the state said,  in a meeting between stakeholders of the party on and the governor on Thursday at government house Jalingo, Governor Ishaku anoited Kotolo and asked all the party structures to ensure his victory during the governorships primary elections.

 

Kotolo was out of reach as at the time of the story to confirm his involvement in the race to become governor of the state.

 

In the opposition party, APC, Chief David Sabo Kente, was also in the state capital to inform the state working committee of the party of his intention to vie for the governorship of the state.

 

Kente who is also from Wukari will be rocking horns with Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha who recently defected from PDP to APC, Bwacha has not visited the state to confirm his ambition to the people, which according to source said arrangement is on top gear for the Senator’s governorship declaration ambition.

 

Others that have expresse their interest, but are yet to make it open are,  Sen. Yusuf A. Yusuf, Sani Abubakar, Prof. Sani Yahaya and Bar. Kabiru Dodo while more may express their interest since the sale of forms is ongoing.