Taraba APGA Gov’ship Candidate Defends Choice Of Zemba As Campaign DG

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Taraba State, Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi, has attributed his extensive leadership, administrative and strategic planning experience to his decision to appoint Prof. Ambrose Audu Zemba as the director-general of his campaign organisation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In a statement issued to LEADERSHIP in Jalingo by the spokesperson of the Danji Campaign Organisation, Hon. Emma Umaru, said the appointment was based on Zemba’s extensive experience in leadership, administration, strategic planning and coordination.

Umaru, who explained the rationale behind the choice of Zemba, said the decision was aimed at strengthening the campaign team through professional management, organisational discipline and strategic thinking.

According to him, Zemba’s background as an academic, university administrator, climatologist and community leader makes him well-suited to coordinate the campaign organisation.

“Prof. Zemba hails from Zing local government area of Taraba State and is of Mumuye extraction, who spent decades in the Nigerian university system and served in various positions of responsibility, including Head of Department and Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at Modibbo Adama University, Yola.”

Hon. Umaru said the former university administrator’s experience in managing people, coordinating complex activities, resolving institutional challenges and working with individuals and groups with diverse interests would be valuable in running a political campaign.

He added that Zemba’s participation in professional, environmental, cooperative and community organisations had further exposed him to diverse communities and perspectives.

“Academic leadership requires research, critical thinking, planning and continuous evaluation. These are qualities that can be valuable in coordinating a campaign organisation,” Umaru said.

He explained that the appointment was a deliberate effort to bring professional expertise into the campaign, rather than relying on conventional political experience.

The spokesman said, Prof. Zemba’s background as a Taraba indigene, coupled with his professional and community service, would also enhance his ability to engage with the state’s diverse political and social constituencies.

Hon. Umaru stressed that the role of the Director-General remained distinct from that of the candidate and the political structure of APGA.

“While Danji SS remains the principal bearer of the campaign’s vision and APGA provides the political platform, the DG is expected to coordinate the organisational machinery through which the candidate’s message and programmes are communicated to the electorate,” he said.

According to him, the appointment underscores Danji SS’s emphasis on competence, experience, organisation and strategic planning as the campaign prepares for the 2027 governorship election.

Hon. Umaru expressed confidence that Prof. Zemba’s academic and administrative experience would strengthen the campaign’s organisational structure and coordination across the state.

He, however, noted that the campaign’s performance would ultimately determine the appointment’s effectiveness as electioneering intensifies.