The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, Hon. Sale Emmanuel, has declared that the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Ja’afaru Yakubu Chiroma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will lose his seat over alleged voter dissatisfaction and political marginalisation of Bali local government area.
Hon. Emmanuel, who expressed confidence that the outcome of the 2027 election would favour him, predicted that Chiroma would personally congratulate him after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announces the results.
The PDP candidate made the declaration while responding to questions from newsmen in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
He insisted that the people of the constituency were ready for a change in representation.
“I am telling you, sir, tell it to anybody: come 2027, Ja’afaru will come and shake my hand and say, ‘Congratulations.’ This is because he knows that I am out to defeat him, and by the grace of God, I will defeat him,” he said.
Hon. Emmanuel alleged that residents of Bali, who overwhelmingly supported Chiroma during the 2023 general elections, had become dissatisfied with his representation, claiming that the lawmaker had failed to meet their expectations.
He said, the support that secured Chiroma’s victory was driven by the desire for a change of leadership after the poor performance of previous representatives.
“The people of Bali unanimously supported and voted for him, but they later regretted their decision. Instead of doing what was expected of him, he deviated from the original purpose for which he was elected. Our people have lost confidence in him,” Hon. Emmanuel alleged.
The PDP candidate also linked the emergence of Senator Haruna Manu, representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, and Chiroma in 2023 to protest votes against their predecessors.
He argued that, the electorate had hoped the new representatives would address longstanding challenges in the area.
He claimed that, some APC members had supported PDP candidates during the last elections in the belief that a change of political leadership would bring relief to their constituents.
“Those of us from the APC supported some people from the PDP to come in and rescue us because those who were there before them had failed the senatorial district and the federal constituency. Unfortunately, what we saw was a movement from grace to grass,” he said.
Hon. Emmanuel identified the continue political marginalisation of Bali as a major factor that could influence the 2027 contest.
He noting that, both the senator representing Taraba Central and the member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives are from Gassol Local Government Area.
According to him, Bali and Gassol were originally one local government area before Gassol was created, adding that the concentration of the two elective positions in Gassol had generated discontent among stakeholders in Bali.
He said, the people of Bali had resolved to support his candidacy, saying his experience and commitment to their interests would provide the representation they desired.
“Bali people are not comfortable with this level of marginalisation. They have put their heads together and identified me as the best candidate to represent them because they believe in my wealth of experience and trust that, I will not betray them,” he added.
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