The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary elections in Taraba State has produced five candidates while one seat was declared inconclusive.
The primaries for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency ended peacefully at the Jolly Nyame Stadium Jalingo, as Mohammed Ismaila beat his close rival former legislator, Ibrahim Imam.
For Karim Lamido/Ardo Kola/Lau, Audu Lauya emerged the winner, beating an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Charles Maijankai. Jafaar Chiroma won for Bali/Gassol while Rev. Joseph Nagombe emerged the winner for Gembu/Kurmi/Gashaka. Pius Sabo, a serving member of the House of Assembly won for Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency.
However, the elections for Takum/Donga/Ussa Constituency was inconclusive, as former Speaker of Taraba House of Assembly, Istifanus Gbana, tied with current Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Douglas Yahaya Ndatse at 43 each.
The election into the House of Assembly for Donga Constituency could not hold on Sunday due to the disagreement that erupted between the supporters of the former Chief of Staff to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, and the Majority Leader in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon Ndaste.
Both men are contesting for the House of Representative Seat for Takum, Donga, Ussa Federal Constituency.
The Primaries, which were scheduled to hold in Donga, the headquarters of the Constituency, were short-lived after the Returning Officer abandoned the election for fear of his life.
More to that, the delegates followed suit and disappeared from the venue of the election; a move believed to be orchestrated by the political heavyweights.
With no election taking place in Donga, the aspirants and their supporters were observed to have immediately moved down to Takum where the House of Representatives primaries were scheduled to take place.
Lamenting the situation, some of the aspirants who spoke with our state correspondent, said “they have kidnapped the Delegates.”
“Some of them were taken captive by the Gbana Camp and the others by the Ndatse Camp. This is not democracy,” they lamented.
Calling for the disqualification of such aspirants, they said: “we came to Takum because we were told that the primaries will take place in Takum after that of the House of Reps and nothing is happening here too.”
While calling the governor and the party’s leadership to wade in, they warned that unless credible candidates are fielded through a transparent, free and fair process to fly the party’s flag in the next political dispensation, the party does not stand a chance at winning the Constituency.
