Jalingo Yorro Zing: Maihanchi Family Still Divided After Gov kefas’s Meeting OverPDP Ticket

·      PDP Group Insists On Level Playing Ground For All Aspirants

 

Efforts by Taraba state governor Dr Agbu Kefas to ensure the Maihanchi family presents a consensus aspirant for the PDP primary election for Jalingo Yorro Zing Federal Constituency has hit the rock, Taraba Truth and Fact report.

 

Late Hon. Isma'ila Yusha'u Maihanchi died weeks after he was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Jalingo, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly.

 

Many politicians in his very large family have declared interests to join the race for the bye-election to replace him.

 

Prominent among the family members seeking the PDP tickets are Umar Abdullah Baba, Jabir Luqman Maihanchi and Ibrahim Yusha'u Maihanchi

Governor Kefas had met with members of the late member elect family where he expressed interest for the family to go into the party's primary election united.

 

The meeting which had in attendance father of the late Ismaila, Alhaji Yusha'u Maihanchi, Alhaji Lukman Maihanchi, Alhaji Armiyau Maihanchi, Nasiru Baba and Umar Baba was to discuss the family bid to retain the PDP ticket for Jalingo, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency in its fold.

 

Our Source said the Governor told the family to present a single candidate for the primary election to replace the late Ismaila Maihanchi to get his support.

 

Although the governor did not expressly assure the family of handing over the PDP ticket to their consensus, he informed the family to go back and unite themselves to pushing a single aspirant from the family at the primary election, he said the party and a special committee is looking forward to presenting a popular candidate that can win the election for the party at the poll.

  

However, those present at the meeting attempted to present an accountant with Jalingo Local Government, Hon Umar Baba as the family consensus aspirant to the governor but a member of the family opposed the idea.

Our source at the meeting said unknown to the family members that the Governor is aware of three other aspirants from the family, the Governor asked them to go back and unite themselves.

Several family members told Taraba Truth and Fact newspaper that the family is finding it difficult to reach an agreement.

"We are have several discussions at the family level and the race is now narrowed down to Umar Baba and Jabir Luqman Maihanchi.

"The Ismaila Maihanchi political associates and young members of our family are disposed to Jabir Luqman Maihanchi to get the ticket because he was the closest to the late Ismaila Maihanchi, he was his trusted ally and can mobilize the support the late member elect got at the poll, even the mother and immediate family of the late Member elect are with Jabir Luqman Maihanchi  to clinch the PDP ticket" a family member who pleaded not to be disclosed said.

The Family member said Umar Baba has the support of some family elders, they want Jabir Maihanchi to continue to manage the business empire of the late politician.

 

Meanwhile a group under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Group of Jalingo, Yoro and Zing federal constituency, has appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to allow a level playing field among aspirants contesting for the House of representative bye-election.

The group in a press statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its chairman, Hon. Cosmos Zorai and secretary Hon. Ado Adamu Lapu, appealed to Governor Kefas to maintain neutrality and allow internal democracy to work in the party.

"While we encourage the aspirants to consult widely and allow the delegates to make their choice as to who should fly the party's ticket in the upcoming bye-election for Jalingo Yoro and Zing federal constituency, we wish to call on the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas not to bow to pressure to anoint any aspirant ahead of the primary election.

"We want Governor Kefas to maintain neutrality and allow internal democracy to work in the party. He should wait and support any candidate that would emerge at the end of the party's primary for the good of the party.

"As a youth group determined to ensure the victory of the party in the constituency and by extension the state at large, we wish to also call on the party to quickly resolve the internal wrangling in the State Chapter of the party so that the party can go into the election without issues that might affect the party's chances.

"We commend the PDP family for the zeal demonstrated so far to retain the mandate which
was given to the party in the last election before the unfortunate death of Hon. Ismaila Maihanchi who was elected to represent the constituency in the National Assembly on the PDP platform," the group appealed.