Politics

Reps By-election: Usibe Perfect Candidates To Replace Jarigbe

Published

3 years ago

February 24, 2022

. .Pulls to be decided on the strength of party popularity

By Cyril Ogar

The seat for the member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives was vacant since Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe was elevated to the Senate of the 9th Assembly. Many had indicated interest in the position but one candidate had been on the top list.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, subsequently slated the bye-election for the Ogoja /Yala House of Representatives vacant position for February 26, 2022, the same date with the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC before it was postponed.

Stating that the election is an important one may be an understatement because the fate of the two major political parties, the APC and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and their major political gladiators in the area hang on the outcome of that contest.

The candidature of Hon. Mike Usibe (Former Chairman of Yala LGA and also former Commissioner for New Cities Development) Standout.

Over the years Usibe has distinguished himself from others by empowering the youths. He has supported several women in the agricultural sector and has sponsored lots of youths through Education.

Hon Mike Usibe is a purpose-driven leader who is ready to rescue his people by providing more employment, projects, building infrastructure, and rendering services to them.

This explains his wide acceptability.One major reason Usibe is said to be more ahead of other aspirants is the fact that, since the inception of Democracy to the present 9th Assembly, Yala ll State Constituency, which is one of the six State Constituencies that constitute the Northern part of Cross River State, has never in history produced a Federal Legislator, Yet have remained patient and always following due process.

A peep into Bon. Mike Ede Usibe’s background shows that he has carved a niche for himself, garnered experience in the political space of Cross River State. Hon Mike Usibe ventured into politics after meritoriously serving the state with an indented retirement record, and was persuaded to contest the Chairmanship election in 2010 given his pedigree and track record in civil service and private life.

Despite disabling the Local Councils administration by state governors, the Ukelle born technocrate turned politician still wrote his name in gold with live touching and changing policies and programs that left indelible prints in the annals of Local Government Administration in Yala LGA.Still in the public service, one time Director of Finance(DFS) in Ikom LGA, was appointed a Commissioner of New Cities Development.

As one who has perchant for good leadership and provision of service to the people, his tenure was short-lived, as he honorably resigned the highly exalted position, in other serve his people in other capacities order than been a Commissioner.

Hon Usibe understands the workings of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its potential to transform the lives of the people and this puts him ahead of other contenders for the exalted position of Member of the House of Representatives, representing Ogoja/Yale Federal constituency.

A careful study and research of the challenges facing the constituency, he has identified the problems and proffers “HOW” to solved the problem. One key Fundamental theorem in his manifesto is centred on infrastructural development and SDGs.

According to him, the people of the constituency and Northern Cross River generally are known to be hard working, in spite of the enormous challenges they face on a daily basis, yet never cease to be productive. The current state of infrastructures to support productivity and development are aged, degraded and non-existence.

It is a generally accepted saying that infrastructural developments remain the key to solving economic challenges of which its lack has greatly affected our growth. He is an entrepreneur and seasoned businessman, with success story.

He is dependable, tested, trusted sagacious, and capable to lead Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency at the green Chambers where he will bring his wealth of expertise and experience to bear in attracting developmental dividends to the Constituency.

Meanwhile Senator Ben Ayade, the governor of the state, is serving his second term, was elected on the platform of the PDP but he defected to the APC on May 20, 2021 following alleged injustices meted out to him by the leadership of the PDP.

His defection heralded the defection of most of his political acolytes such as commissioners, special advisers, federal and state assembly members, council chairmen and a large percentage of PDP members across the state, who joined him in his new political sojourn.

The two political parties, APC and PDP which are the only ones in the race have picked their standard-bearers: Jude Ngaji emerged for the APC via consensus while PDP chose Mike Usibe through a primary election.

The flag bearers and their parties would soon go round the 24 wards of the federal constituency to sell their manifestos to the electorate in readiness for the election coming up in the next two days.

As both the PDP and APC are warm up for another titanic battle for the seat, with APC’s three National Assembly members from the state which is in minority compared to PDP seven. it’s clear as crystal that the PDP is not be a pushover in the election nor in 2023.Besides, a lot of people in APC today are APC in the mouth but PDP at heart.

Ostensibly, the APC has embodied the PDP by fielding a wrong candidate that has given the opposition party an edge or identify someone with acceptability that can win the election to strengthen its ranks and files ahead of 2023.

Without prejudice, sentiment, self-interest, and emotions, Hon. Mike Usibe remains the best and the candidate to beat in the Bye-election come 26th February 2022.

Therefore there is need for every son and daughter of Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency, both at home and in diaspora, to come to terms and support Hon. Mike Usibe for competent and effective representation, get involved in the political process to ensure that the best, popular and capable candidate emerges to drive a new narrative for the Constituency.

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Politics

Kaduna LG poll: Election didn’t hold in Kagarko, Gov Sani should investigate, cancel exercise- PDP candidate Yusuf

Published

3 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

The Gleamer

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) chairmanship election in Kaduna State, Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, who is the Buhun Barkonun Abuja and Sa’Snusnugye (Sarkin Tausayin) Dnata, has described the outcome of the Chairmanship and Councillorship elections held in the state on Saturday, October 19.

The Chairman of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, announced that elections took place in all the 255 wards of the state and 23 LGAs.

She said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the 23 LGAs Chairmanship positions and all the 255 Councilors’ seats.

However, in a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Yusuf, who resigned his position as Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Revenue and Security Taskforce ahead of the election, said he would have won massively if the election was free and fair.

He said that what happened at Kagarko Local Government Area was not an election, but a charade, adding he remains the popular candidate and choice of the people.

He called on Governor Uba Sani to critically look at what transpired over the weekend and cancel exercise.

He said: “I sincerely want to appreciate my people of Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State over the massive love and support shown to me during the Kaduna State Local Government Area election.

“However, I want to use this opportunity to tell the whole world that election didn’t hold in Kagarko LGA, where I was the candidate of the PDP and the popular choice of the people.

“Of a truth, if election was conducted, I would have won overwhelmingly and congratulated by the people of Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State as I remain their popular choice.

“I want to place it on record that election did not hold in Kagarko and other LGAs in Kaduna state. In fact, election materials arrived late and came without results sheets, so the electorates, who were rightly suspicious of an untoward game, refused to vote.

“There is a saying that you can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand. In other words, since the election did not hold, there is no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (Councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (Chairmen) as mandated in the KAD-SIECOM law, PART VI Section 23 (1) and (2).

“I have viewed documents on the social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, apportioning votes to candidates of political parties, when clearly no such results were collated at the polls.

“Therefore, I side with the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, in condemning the sham conducted by the Chairman of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, by claiming that elections took place in all the 255 wards of the state and 23 LGAs, whereas reverse was the case.

“I also call on Governor Uba Sani Gov UBA Sani to critically look at what transpired over the weekend, especially the massive rejection and condemnation of the charade called election and call for the cancellation of the exercise.

“People are supposed to have faith in the governor, so he should not betray the trust of the people, but should do the right thing by calling for a fresh election in order to strengthen democracy in Kaduna state and increase the love, trust and hope people have in him.”

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