Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Taraba South Senatorial District and Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency, Dr Jesse Ashumate and Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima, have promised to make youth empowerment, peace and development the focus of their campaigns ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections.
have pledged to prioritise youth empowerment, peace, infrastructure and economic development if elected in the 2027 elections.
The candidates made the commitment on Thursday in Abuja at a press briefing where they formally declared their candidacy and commence campaigns for the Wukari/Ibi and Taraba South Senatorial District seats.
While Ashumate, a former Commissioner of Finance in Taraba State, promised to promote youth empowerment, agriculture and unity among the diverse communities in Southern Taraba, Galadima pledged to push for improved healthcare, infrastructure, jobs and peace through legislation and collaboration.
Ashumate said empowering young people through financial support, business development and agriculture would help reduce economic hardship and create greater opportunities for youths in the senatorial district.
“That will ensure that our young men are reached by programs that will empower them either financially, or that will boost their businesses. Taraba South is a Nigerian region, and I believe that agriculture-related activities, if they are promoted, the youth of the Southern zone will be economically empowered,” he said.
He also identified ethnic divisions as one of the factors sustaining crises in Southern Taraba, promising to work towards greater unity among the different communities if elected.
“So we will also make sure that, like I have said from the beginning, we will make sure that the unity among the different tribes, because they are diverse tribes in the Southern zone, and I think that over the years, people have perpetuated the different divides so much that the crisis that has been lingering has not been able to be resolved.”
Ashumate said his objective was to build what he described as an egalitarian society where residents could freely pursue their livelihoods and benefit directly from government projects.
“So in a nutshell, we want a society that is egalitarian, where people can work freely, where people can engage in their different economic activities, and also where people can benefit directly from government projects.”
The former commissioner also pointed to his record in government, saying youths were empowered and more than 100 people employed into different government agencies during his tenure.
“When I was the Honorable Commissioner of Finance in Taraba State, we have empowered the youth. We have employed a lot of our youth into different government agencies. I think on my record we have over a hundred people employed into different agencies. Some of them are even federal agencies.”
He further pledged to sponsor bills aimed at driving the development of Southern Taraba through collaboration.
“I’ll also sponsor bills that’ll bring about the development of Southern Taraba through a collaboration.”
For Galadima, the Wukari/Ibi contest represents a response to what he described as a “clarion call” by constituents seeking a credible alternative and stronger representation.
He said his experience, competence and network had encouraged constituents to demand his participation in the race, insisting that the people needed a representative capable of giving voice to their concerns.
“This is a response to a clarion call by the people of my constituents, that based on antecedents of my experience, competence, and network in the field, and they believe so, that I stand a good chance to represent them.”
Galadima said his legislative agenda would cover youth and women empowerment, employment, affordable healthcare, infrastructure and peace, stressing that meaningful development could be achieved through legislation and collaboration.
“My vision, just like highlighted by my colleague, by the grace of God, Distinguished Senator, Inshallah, just through legislation and collaboration, we will see that there is peace, unity and stability in our area. Also we ensure empowerment to our youths, empowerment to our women, as well as job availability.”
He described the infrastructural situation in the area as a major concern, particularly the condition of roads linking Southern Taraba with neighbouring states.
“And just like the way he mentioned, our area is in deteriorate infrastructural deficit. All roads to Southern Taraba are in poor condition, taking from the Plateau State, and Angbo is the center, and from Plain as.”
Among his immediate priorities, Galadima listed the completion of abandoned projects, including infrastructure intended to improve connectivity between Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and the Federal Capital Territory.
“To be completed, because for now it has been abandoned. To be completed so that the state and part of the state is linked through Plateau State, Bauchi State, as well as FCT Abuja.”
Healthcare, he added, would receive similar attention, with plans to complete an existing health facility and explore collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme to improve affordability and access.
“The health facility, which after completion we are going to engage the National Health Insurance Scheme facility, such so that our people can afford the facility, afford and also access the facility.”
Galadima, however, acknowledged that lawmakers do not directly execute government projects, saying their role would be to use legislation, dialogue and collaboration to attract development to the constituency.
“Yes, we are not executives. We are legislators. But through dialogue, collaboration, consultation and cooperation, we will attract development to our area by special grace of God.”
He said the formal declaration was also in compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, timetable for the commencement of campaigns.
“So why we are making this declaration today, this is a response to the INEC guidelines that campaign should start from the 19th. Today being 20th, we want to just mention, our constituents know that we are ready to go and we are competent to be there.”
Galadima said improved healthcare and infrastructure would remain immediate priorities if elected, summing up his agenda in a brief statement: “So, in a nutshell, health first, then the bridges.”
