Senator Yusuf Moves to Clinch APC Guber Ticket in 2023
•Constituents Want Senator To Showcase Achievements
Senator representing Taraba Central at the National Assembly, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, would be joining the roll call of aspirants to jostle for the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Congress APC in 2023, sources confirmed to Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper.
Yusuf who is a member of the APC National Caretaker Committee was said to be perfecting his plans on contesting the governorship election in 2023 after spending eight years in the National Assembly.
As gathered, Yusuf has begun exploring his close contacts with the national leadership of the party to get an edge over others who would be contesting the primary election with him in 2023.
Sources said that the lawmaker representing Senators in the APC National Caretaker Committee has been singing it to the hears of the Chairman APC Mai Mala Buni his capacity to win Taraba State for the progressive if given the party's ticket.
Although the lawmaker has not openly declared his intentions, his associates are already making consultations within and outside the state and were said to be setting up structures across the 16 local governments.
"Everything about his body language shows he's very much interested in contesting the governorship election in 2023, in fact, he has an upper hand in the state because of his influence in the party and he's already making good use of his contacts at the National level to sell his personality as a sellable candidate in 2023," his associate who pleaded not to be named told Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper.
The associate confirmed that the Senator was also widening his program and activities across the 16 local governments of the state to boost his popularity among APC members.
"Basically our programs now cover the 16 local governments, our palliatives were shared across the state, our empowerment program is also done across the state but I don't think it has something to do with 2023. The Senator believes, as the leader of APC in Taraba state, he should always take care of all members of the party."
Sources said the Senator has been championing a campaign to shut all federal political appointees out of the race in 2023.
"Senator Yusuf has been championing the move that all appointees of Mr. President should focus on their appointments and forget about 2023 because the Minister of Power has been going around with his ambition, we felt its distractive for Mr. President appointees. However, many believe this move is to wade away some major contender for the ticket."
•Constituents Want Senator To Showcase Achievements
Meanwhile, residents of Taraba Central Senatorial districts are calling on their senator to showcase his achievements in the National Assembly before mulling to contest the governorship election.
Many who spoke to our correspondent said that Yusuf's performance in the National Assembly might however hinder his chances as many of his constituents were said to be grumbling on his performance.
They lamented that the Senator has abandoned his senatorial district since after winning his re-election in 2019, "In fact Taraba Central is not getting enough from the senator, we are the only senatorial district in the country not connected to National Grid; our roads are bad and we are poorly empowered," Soliu Adamu a resident in Baiasa told our reporters.
Another political pundit however showed concerns that Senator Yusuf's performance in the National Assembly might be a stumbling block ahead of his political career.
"You know he is currently influential at the national level of the party and he enjoys a very good relationship with the state leadership of the party but he's not a grassroots politician, our people are not happy with him. It was the likes of Senator Bashir Marafa that helped him win his second term, even till date he has not visited his constituency after he was elected and that's to tell you how much he has lost touch with his people. In terms of projects and achievements, he can't be compared to the likes of Senator Bwacha who is doing wonderfully well for his people. Go around Central Zone they are not much of his impact felt by the people aside from few boreholes that should be left for younger lawmakers, Yusuf has done nothing for his people to eye governorship of the state."
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