11 candidates jostle for Jos North/Bassa constituency

Less than two weeks to the by-election of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, candidates of the participating political parties have intensified electioneering campaigns in the nooks and crannies of the constituency. The electoral empire scheduled the election for February 26, 2022. The election will be conducted to fill the vacant seat of the constituency created by […]

Less than two weeks to the by-election of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, candidates of the participating political parties have intensified electioneering campaigns in the nooks and crannies of the constituency.

The electoral empire scheduled the election for February 26, 2022.

The election will be conducted to fill the vacant seat of the constituency created by the death of late Haruna Maitala, who died on April 3, 2021, in a motor accident along Abuja-Jos road.

The electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on Saturday published the names of 11 political parties – APC, PDP, PRP, ADC, ADP, APM, APP, LP, NNPP, SDP, and YPP that have shown interest in the election.

However, political analysts say the battle is between the candidate of the APC, Joseph Abbey Aku and Musa Agah Avia of the PDP.

Adamu Muhammad Alkali of PRP is also gaining ground in the constituency. He left APC following the controversy that trailed the primary of the party.

From 2003 to 2015, the constituency had been represented by the opposition party, until 2015 when late Maitala won election on the platform of the APC.

However, many observers say this time around, the opposition, especially the PRP, will give a serious challenge to the ruling APC in the constituency due to the rancour that followed the primaries of the APC.

Many aggrieved members of the ruling APC in the constituency accused Governor Simon Lalong of siding with Aku, the winner of the primary.

Sources told Daily Trust that the members were not happy with the action of the governor.

Soon after the APC primary, there were petitions and disagreements among the members over the conduct of the exercise.

Analysts say the APC candidate, who is the State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry and hails from Rukuba Chiefdom of Bassa LGA, would undoubtedly gain the support of the governor considering the role he – the governor – played during the party primary.

With the financial support from the government, observers say, he would make a great impact during the election.

The PDP candidate, who hails from Miango Chiefdom of same Bassa LGA, would virtually enjoy the support of the majority of voters from the area who are often sympathetic to PDP during every election.

The PRP candidate on the other hand, though a politician and businessman who is buoyant to financially foot his candidacy, would enjoy the support of the aggrieved members of APC.

Another advantage of the PRP candidate is that Jos North LGA, where he hails from, according to INEC, has 474 polling units as against Bassa with 145.

The PRP candidate, who is also supported by the majority of voters in Jos North, is likely to win the election, pundits said.