Lawmaker Accuses Party Officials of Selling Councilorship Slots in Yorro

As political activities intensify ahead of the November 2025 Local Government Council elections in Taraba State, the Member representing Yorro Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Kannoh Kassong, has raised serious allegations against party officials in his local government, accusing them of commercializing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councilorship slots. 

In a press statement released on Wednesday, Hon. Kassongalleged that the PDP Chairman of Yorro Local Government Area, Hon. Nasiru, popularly known as Huru-Huru, has been collecting money from aspirants under the pretense of securing them nomination slots.

Describing the act as fraudulent and a betrayal of the PDP's core values, the lawmaker said the party is not anyone's personal property and must not be used for selfish gain. "It has come to my attention that the PDP Chairman in Yorro LGA, Hon. Nasiru(Huru-Huru), has allegedly been collecting money from aspirants, falsely promising them councilorship slots in their wards," Kassong said. "This is a betrayal of the values and ethics of our great party. The PDP is not personal property and should not be commercialized."

He warned all aspirants to be cautious and to understand that any money paid to the chairman was at their own risk. "I call on all aspirants to know that any money given to him is at their own risk. The selection process must be fair, open, and based on party guidelines—not backroom deals or personal gain."

Kassong also used the opportunity to address mounting speculation and misinformation regarding alleged endorsements of candidates ahead of the council polls. Refuting the claims, he made it clear that no candidate has been officially endorsed by the party or any legitimate authority in the state.

"Let me make this categorically clear: no candidate has been endorsed for any position in the forthcoming election," he said. "We are awaiting the directive from our leader and Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas, who remains the leader of the PDP in the state. Until an official directive is given by the Governor, no one should parade themselves or others as endorsed candidates."

In a further twist, Hon. Kassong rejected the formation of what he described as an "unauthorized" 7-man committee per ward in Yorro, reportedly set up by a former Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly. He stated that the move was made without his consent or knowledge and has no legitimacy.

"As the serving member representing Yorro and the party's leader in the Local Government, I was neither consulted nor informed of the formation of any such committee. That committee is unauthorized and should be disregarded," he said. "We cannot return to a system that is dictatorial and unrepresentative of the people's will. The selection of candidates must be transparent, democratic, and in line with the party's official directive."

Kassong urged PDP members and the general public to remain law-abiding and to reject any attempts to manipulate the democratic process. He reiterated his confidence in the leadership of Governor Agbu Kefas and affirmed that all candidate selections will be guided by the Governor's directive.