Taraba by-election reflects voter frustration – Former PDP secretary

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Stephen Othaniel, a former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, blamed the party’s defeat in the just finished Karim-Lamido 1 State Constituency by-election on the current administration’s poor performance and a lack of leadership guidance.

In response to inquiries from reporters in Jalingo on Wednesday, he also blamed the PDP’s dismal polling performance on the current administration’s purported shortcomings.

“Ordinarily, PDP would have won the election without stress because Karim has always been a PDP stronghold. But the people lost trust after the former PDP lawmaker resigned his seat to take up a commissioner position, abandoning the mandate they gave him,” he said.

What Othaniel described as Governor Agbu Kefas’s “very poor performance” throughout his first two years in office exacerbated the problem, he said.

He asserted that in spite of substantial federal funding and substantial debt, the administration has not produced substantial progress in the state.

According to him, “It has never been this bad since the creation of Taraba. With the highest allocation and borrowing, the governor has done practically nothing. The people have spoken, and this is not just about Karim; this is a statewide message ahead of 2027.”

Othaniel, who supported the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the general elections of 2023 as a candidate for state assembly, praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security services for holding a peaceful and legitimate bye-election.

“Generally, the election was free, fair, and credible. INEC followed the electoral act, and I’d give them an 85 per cent pass mark. The security personnel were also impressive, proactive and professional. For over 30 years in politics, I have never seen them act this effectively,” he said.

He said that security personnel detained several who were trying to interfere with the procedure, including a sitting MP who was purportedly seen trying to steal ballots.

“Thank God the security agencies responded swiftly. As we speak, those involved are in custody and will face prosecution under the law,” he added.

In addition, Othaniel criticized the governor’s response to the state’s deteriorating security situation, saying that his passivity further polarized the populace and fueled protest votes in the bye-election.

“People are losing confidence. The insecurity is worsening, and the government has shown little interest in addressing it. The election result is the people’s way of expressing their frustration,” he said.

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