Rabiu Omaku
As this year’s election gathered momentum, the new political party in town, the Social Democratic Party is still counting the number of political office holders in the crisis-stricken ruling All Progressives Congress who have defected to the party to actualize their ambition.
Universal Reporters Online gathered that the party, even before the conduct of the 2023 general election has produced critical office holders ranging from Senate, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly seats, feelers are of the view that the party can be rated the second in Nasarawa State while considering the number of political seats the party is occupying at the State and national assembly.
The last straw that breaks the camel’s back, is the defection of Hon Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, a politician to the core, a grass root mobilizer, and the people’s delight was foisted to dump the APC to the SDP, Pundits described his jumping ship to a new party as a colossal loss to the ruling party and only time shall tell.
Wadada instead of participating in the February 2, primary election that brought Arc Shehu Tukur as the winner of the APC Nasarawa west senatorial district seat according to a member of the State executive who pleaded anonymity averred that the SDP is like a campfire.
With the unfolding in the party which leads to litigation at the federal high court sitting in Lafia and its subsequent nullification of the primaries as well as ordering the APC to conduct fresh primaries within two weeks and the judgement of the appeal court sitting in Abuja declaring Arc Shehu Tukur as the winner of the primaries nullifies by the FHC and the subsequent approach of Bar. Labaran Magaji going to the apex court, that is the supreme court to seek justice is a clear testimony that the party is on the brink of collapsing despite a series of litigations hanging in courts.
This may not be a good omen for the party that needed people must return to power in a landslide victory, wise men say, things fall apart, the centre can never hold, and some jurists are of the view that the unfolding is an end to the victory of the APC in Nasarawa west senatorial district, he emphasizes that at the end of the day, the contest may be between the SDP and PDP or probably to a dodged fighter, Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada of the SDP.
While in Nasarawa north senatorial zone, the fight is between Senator Godiya Akwashiki of the SDP, Akwashiki is the incumbent occupant of the exalted seat before he jumped ship from APC to the SDP, Is going to face Nathaniel Aboki of the PDP, and Danladi Halilu Emvulanza of the APC.
Electorate in Nasarawa Eggon/ Akwanga/Wamba during an interaction with Universal Reporters Online says Akwashiki is there must be a preferable candidate for senate, Nasarawa north, and nothing will stop them from voting for him, he further opined that is the best amongst the other senators in terms of constituency project.
Another politician to watch in the State in the SDP are Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, a two-term member federal House of representatives representing Keffi/Kokona/Karu, defected from his party, the PDP to APC so as to clink his seat in the APC but was denied a ticket and he again dumped the APC to the SDP, Is another politician to beat in Nasarawa west.
In Nasarawa South senatorial district, the APC also loses one of its member federal House of representatives representing Lafia/Obi federal constituency under the banner of the APC and was kicked out of the race because of power that be, Hon. Abubakar Sherif Sarki Dahiru, the current member federal House of representatives representing Lafia/Obi, is a popular candidate amongst his people, it was gathered that he has done enough for his people as a two-term member.
Hon. Muhammed Muluku is a former member of the House of Assembly in the then Plateau State, that is before, Nasarawa State was created, is the youngest amongst his contemporaries then, while in Nasarawa State he served for three consecutive terms under the auspices of the PDP before he jumped ship to the APC and was elected under the same APC, everything is working smoothly for the faction of Godiya Akwashiki,Muluku and Danlami Odasko of the APC as against Danladi Halilu Emvulanza whom feelers are acussing him of feilding a PDP candidate, Nathaniel Aboki to challenged Godiya Akwashiki and Muluku who are in control of Nasarawa Eggon delegates before the twist of event.
Despite the emergence of Emvulanza and Hon. Jacob Kudu, for House of Assembly, the SDP is waxing stronger every day in Nasarawa north senatorial zone.
Hon Tanko Tunga
He Is the current majority leader of the House of Assembly in Nasarawa State, a two-term member under the auspices of the APC before his recent defection to the SDP, the occupant of the seat is seeing the contest as a do-or-die affair.
Tunga, a former adviser to the immediate past Governor of the State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has lost his political searchlight with the emergence of Hon. Hudu A. Hudu, a Journalist to the core, opinion shapers are of the view that Hudu, a reporter with the State-owned media house the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service Lafia has given a sleepless night to a political rival.
The ruling party also lost one of its female contestants, Hon. Juliana Esla who won the seat of House of Assembly representing Lafia East constituency decamped to the SDP following the Judgement of the appeal court sitting in the nation’s capital.
It would be recalled that the recent homecoming of Hon. Ahmed Wadada, a former House of Representatives member and prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state brought Keffi to a standstill, during his defection rally to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). the town was agog for the new party
Wadada , alongside, the immediate past member House of Representatives representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona federal constituency along with over 20, 000 supporters commenced the rally at the Keffi flyover bridge in Keffi Local Government area of the state.
The Keffi rally caused gridlock for several hours at the ever-busy Keffi/Akwanga Federal highway and on major roads in Keffi where Wadada and his teeming supporters passed through.
Hon Wadada notified his supporters of his intention to contest for the Nasarawa West Senatorial District seat at the Senate at the forthcoming general elections in 2023 so as to actualize his dream of giving them impactful representation at the National Assembly.
He gave them the assurance of his landslide victory in the forthcoming general elections as he said he will initiate people-oriented legislation in the senate once elected.
Stating that he plans to initiate projects that will have a direct impact on the lives of the people so as to empower them and change their lives for good.
“The kind of projects I have for the people are the same kind of projects I carried out for the people when I was a member of the House of Representatives, which is why they are all in support of me.
“I have added value to human capacity. I represented them very well in the past and helped bring civilization to the people,” he said.
He expressed delight over the massive support given to him from the electoral, adding that he feels challenged to do much more for the people of the senatorial district if elected to represent them.
“I feel fulfilled and much more challenged because for God to bless me with this level of support, it is imperative for me to look for ways to do much more than I did before,” he said.
He then explained that he left the APC due to the controversy that trailed the recently conducted Nasarawa West Senatorial District primary election which he described as illegal and undemocratic and withdrew from the contest.
“Wherever there is no justice, the society cannot be better. so, there is no justice in APC and I know I have the followership of my people, that’s why I opted for a different platform so as to enable me to actualize my dreams.
“I am one politician that has always related, associated with the people whether I am in the office or not, and somebody out there feels it is time to do whatever he can and went ahead to change, doctored and manipulate the delegates list, which of course I chose not to go with that illegality,” he said.
