Taraba Former Speaker Wins Reps’ Seat

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared former speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon Mark Useni the winner of the rerun election to represent Ussa, Donga, Takum constituency in the House of Representatives.

Useni has represented the people of Takum II three times in the state legislature.

Prof. Luka Juma, the returning officer, who announced the result of the election, said Useni, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured a total of 25,929 to win the election.

Juma said the second runner for the election and candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon Riman Shaulu, got 25,350 while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Istifanus Gbana received 20,234 to come third in the keenly contested election

In his acceptance speech, Useni urged his rivals to join him to serve the people better.

He said the area where he was voted to represent at the national assembly happened to be the most disastrous area in terms of insecurity and displacement of persons.

Useni told journalist after his victory that he would give priority to the return of Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the area to let them go about their normal activities to empower themselves.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Kalrim Lamido II state constituency, Anas Shuaibu, has won the seat.

The election was conducted on Saturday.

The returning officer, Dr. Bawuro Manga, from the Federal University,  Wukari said Shuaibu polled 7,104 to defeat his closest opponent Bobbo Bello Bendu of the PDP who scored 6,508 votes.