NNPP in Taraba State is ready to paticipate LG Polls in Taraba.

By Sani Yarima in Jalingo

As the local government councils election is around the corner, the Taraba State Chairman of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Hon. Abdullahi Ade has expressed optimism that the election will be free and fair Ade aired this pronouncement while briefing newsmen in Jalingo, the capital city of the state. He said their party, the NNPP had agreed to take part in the election because of the assurances that the Chairman of the TSIEC, Dr. Phillip Duwe gave all the political parties in the state of conducting a free, fair, and credible election. "We have been meeting with the TSIEC Chairman, Dr. Danladi Phillip Duwe, he called us frequently since they released the timetable for the LG Council polls, I think we have met almost five times and he promised us that the commission would conduct a free and fair election which I always quote him by his words, and I am optimistic that they will do that. "Dr. Duwe is an elderly person with dignity and a good reputation because I could remember vividly what he has done during the regime of the immediate past Governor, Architect Darius Ishaku where oppositions were their mandates in the places they have won, therefore we have confidence in him and we believe they will do justice for the development of democracy. "Even Governor Agbu Kefas, we believe in what he said that he will not interfere, and as a man of God who is preaching at the Church, we believe he will allow the commission to do its job without bias, so, all that we are saying is they should do justice because like I always say, a local government council Chairman or councilor cannot a Governor from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities. "I always give an example with Kaduna State when El-rufa'i was the governor, during his eight years, PDP used to win the and councilor chairmanships especially in southern Kaduna and he allowed them likewise in Niger state whichever local government the oppositions won they gave them. "But if the ruling party will rig the election, I don't think when the next election comes people from the opposition parties will come out and participate because there is no more democracy," Hon. Ade emphasized. Hon. Abdullahi Ade also called on their supporters to come out en masse peacefully come 18th November 2023 and vote for NNPP, urging them to be law-abiding as the TSIEC promised to count the votes cast at the ward's collation centres. According to him, they have candidates for the chairmanship at six (6) local government areas comprising Jalingo, Karim Lamido, Gassol, Yerro, Ibi, and Sardauna, while they also have candidates that will contest for councilorship in other local government areas where there are no chairmanship candidates and expressed hope for victory. He, however, expressed satisfaction with the security measures that the state electoral body will put in place to ensure a rancor-free election across the sixteen LGAs of the state. Commenting on the party's suit filed against the ruling PDP in the state at the Appeal court challenging the Victory of governor Agbu Kefas, the NNPP State Chairman, Ade said that their Governorship candidate, Prof. Muhammed Sani Yahaya will not tempered with the mandate of the people of Taraba State who came out and voted for him massively during the governorship election. "We have three stages, we are in the second stage which is the appeal court after the Tribunal has done us injustice, and the whole world knows that our candidate, Prof. Muhammed Sani Yahaya won the election but they stole our mandate and we are going to the higher stage, even though we have so much believe that the appeal court will do justice to all, and by the grace of God we will retrieve our mandate," Ade alleged. "The sitting at the appeal court is coming up on Tuesday and Insha Allah victory is ours. As you know, the appeal court judgment doesn't take time, it's just one, or two sittings they will decide on who won the election, so, I am calling on our supporters and the people of Taraba State at large to remain calm and peaceful. Says Hon. Abdullahi Ade.