By Chuwang Emmanuel, Jalingo
The Taraba State Permanent Secretary Bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Bello Yero, from all indications may resign and join the House of Representatives election race.
Universal Reporters reliably gathered that Mr. Yero, has commenced consultation to contest for the seat to represent Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency under the platform of the state-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The position became vacant after the demised of Ismaila Maihanchi who contested in the last election under the platform of PDP.
Maihanchi died in the early hours of Saturday, 22nd April after a brief illness at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.
Before his election, the deceased was a close confidant and Special Adviser to Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku.
Although Mr Yero who is also a close ally to Ishaku is yet to resign or make an official declaration, a close family source who begged for anonymity said consultations are ongoing as Mr. Yero will soon resign to join the race for the reps seat.
He said Yero’s candidacy has the backing of Ishaku, the governor-elect, Agbu Kefas, and the party at both state and local government levels as such he may be an unopposed candidate for the party.
Meanwhile, a Jalingo-based businessman, Inuwa Yahaya has vowed to mobilize support for Yero in whatever form, the moment he makes his intention public to contest.
Inuwa who disclosed this to Universal Reporters said, “I will be leading a delegation of other businessmen to go and see him and convince him to resign and go and represent us in Abuja.” He spoke
“We are ready to support him in every aspect, even financially” He added
Management staff at the bureau who begged for anonymity, confirmed to our reporter that Yero is actually going to contest for the vacant House of Representatives seat.
“He personally informed us at the management level of his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat, he solicited our prayers and support.” He said.
All efforts by Universal Reporters to reach out to Mr. Yero failed as his numbers were not going through at the time of filling this report.
Also, when our reporter visited his office and his home, he was not around.
Meanwhile the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, David Kassa on Wednesday officially declared his intention to vie for the representative seat.
He made the declaration when he received over 100 youths from Zing, Yorro, and Jalingo who visited him in Jalingo and called on him to contest for the seat.
“I have heard your call, I have also received calls from various groups and stakeholders who want me to run for the seat. On my part, I have also consulted widely with all the stakeholders.
“I want to announce to you that I have accepted your call. I have also accepted the call of our women, support groups, and traditional and opinion leaders who want me to represent them at this time in the green chamber of the National Assembly.
“The people of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing deserve good leadership both at the state and national level and I represent that voice and leadership that would drive the needed positive change in the area.
“If given the mandate, I will work closely with the PDP-led government at the state level and bring dividends of democracy to the people of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing,” he pledged.” He declared.
The Taraba State chapter of the PDP says the party is well prepared for the bye-election, but they are waiting for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the timetable for the election.
Abubakar Bawa, the PDP state chairman in Taraba, told our reporter that “We have long prepared ourselves and have been waiting for INEC to release the timetable for the election.”
He said even though no candidate is yet to officially inform the party of his or her desire to contest the election but he has been hearing speculation that a lot of persons are interested in contesting for the seat, including Yero.
“Yes I learned that many people are interested in the seat, including Bello Yero but since non of them has informed the party officially I consider it as mere rumour.”
“As soon as INEC releases the timetable we will commence the sale of the nomination form for anyone interested in contesting.”
Bawa said that the party may consider the option of consensus for the candidates to emerge.
He, however, said that in the event that the option failed, the party would conduct primary elections for the contestants.
What happens if a candidate dies after winning the election but before the inauguration?
Section 34 of the 2022 Electoral Act says if a president-elect or governor-elect dies before being sworn in as president, the deputy will continue as president-elect or governor-elect, while a new deputy will be nominated.
For legislative offices, the 2022 Electoral Act is silent on this matter the Constitution is not also specific on the matter.
However, in Nigeria if a legislative seat becomes vacant, an election will be conducted by INEC.
Recalled the House of Representatives in 2021, had proposed a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow a political party to nominate the successor of a member of the National Assembly or State House of Assembly who dies.
The bill, which was sponsored by a member of the PDP from Taraba, Rimamnde Kwewum, is yet to be assented to.
Kwewum’s bill is particularly seeking to amend Section 68(1) of the Constitution, saying it would allow INEC to “accept nominations by political parties rather than conduct bye-elections in order to replace or fill vacancies caused by the death of a member of the Senate or of the House of representatives, or of a member of state House of Assembly under the corresponding Section 109(1).”
The lawmaker said, “The underlying idea here is borne out of the fact that under the current practice, where and whenever a vacancy occurs as a result of the death of a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives as well as for a member of the House of Assembly of a state, INEC would normally conduct a bye-election to fill such vacancy.
“Under this amendment, political parties are permitted to first make fresh nominations to INEC to replace such vacancies before going ahead to conduct a bye-election. It is only when political parties are unable to utilise their internal party mechanism and make nominations to INEC that INEC is expected to conduct a bye-election as contemplated under Section 68(1) CFRN, 1999.”
