After Winning Karim Bye-Election, APC Brags Ahead Of 2027

  caption: Winner of the Karim I State Constituency bye-election and Member-elect, Hon. Abner Shittu Dahbo, embraces APC leader, Senator Abubakar Sani, shortly after the official announcement of results

 

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has declared that its victory in the just concluded Karim Lamido I State Constituency by-election is a strong pointer to its growing strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC candidate, Hon. Abner Shittu Dahbo, winner of the poll after he secured 5,895 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ali Kanda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 5,488 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Badina Garba, scored 1,774 votes, while Abubakar Dauda of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) got 149 votes.

The result means the APC has snatched the Karim I seat in the Taraba State House of Assembly a constituency long dominated by the PDP, a development the party described as "a new dawn" for Taraba politics.

Williams Andrew, an APC chieftain from Kurmi Local Government, described the outcome as a litmus test for the 2027 elections.

"I congratulate Hon. Abner Shittu Dahbo on his well-earned victory. His emergence is a reassuring sign that Karim I is now on the path of youthful and purposeful leadership. This victory shows that Taraba people are ready for change," he said.

Similarly, the APC Chief Returning Officer for the election, MB Mustapha Esq., said the win had opened the way for the party to consolidate its position in the state.

"This victory is a path to securing future elections in Taraba. The APC has demonstrated that it is on ground and well connected to the grassroots," he stated.

Former Taraba Acting Governor, Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi, who coordinated the party's campaign, told supporters that the APC victory would ensure greater Federal Government presence in the constituency. He said the bye-election showed that President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda was already resonating with the people of Taraba.

"Voting APC is the surest way to secure more dividends of democracy for our people. This victory is only the beginning. 2027 will be ours," he declared.

Jimkuta Emmanuel, another APC stakeholder, said the outcome of the by-election exposed the weakness of the PDP in Taraba.

"This was a litmus test for PDP leaders in Karim Lamido and Taraba North, and they failed it. The present PDP leadership lacks the capacity to deliver Governor Kefas in 2027. The grassroots have spoken, and it is clear that the future belongs to the APC," he said.

Party leaders also hailed Senator Danladi's role in mentoring Hon. Abner Shittu, whom they described as his "political son," and mobilizing support across Karim Lamido.

With the victory, the APC says it is now more united and determined to form a stronger opposition in the state.

"If we could defeat the PDP despite all the government apparatus deployed, then 2027, including the governorship election, is for APC to win," a party statement read.

The Karim I by-election, according to APC supporters, has shown the power of unity and grassroots mobilization, signaling a possible shift in Taraba's political balance.

 

 

 

 

 

3 INEC Officials Nabbed With Diverted Election Materials In Karim

Three officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been arrested by the police over the diversion of election materials in Taraba State.

INEC conducted a by-election for the Karim Lamido I Constituency of the State House of Assembly, along with 15 other constituencies in 13 states across the country, on Saturday.

INEC declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Abner Shittu, as winner of the Karim-Lamido 1 State Constituency by-election in Taraba State.

The state INEC's Returning Officer, Mustapha Sa'ad, declared the results on Sunday.

The elections suffered from malpractices and low turnout of voters for the election.

According to Northern-based reporter Zagazola Makama, unnamed sources stated that a tip-off by party agents prompted the police to arrest the election management staff on Saturday.

"The sources said the incident occurred on August 16 at about 2:20 pm when a team of policemen intercepted the suspects at a private residence in Angwan Sarkin Panya village," Zagazola Makama wrote on X (Link archived here).

The election agents arrested were 49-year-old Gideon Amos, an Assistant Presiding Officer II posted to Polling Unit 16, Angwan Yusuf Dogo, Bikwin Ward, 47-year-old Matthew Jayi and 32-year-old Tiasama Mathias Musa.

They "allegedly diverted materials meant for three polling units, PU 005 Gandara, PU 016 Angwan Yusuf Dogo, and PU 029 Angwan Sarkin Primary School, to the residence".

The police were said to have retrieved various items, including three ballot boxes, two BIVAS machines, 19 booklets and 20 pieces of ballot papers, two stamp pads with ink, one marker and two result sheets, from the suspects.

 

The police also met some resistance as Police Constable Christian Garba "had his uniform forcibly removed by hoodlums who fled with it".

When ballot papers and other critical voting materials are diverted, the actors usually go to hidden location to mass-thumbprint the the papers and stuff them into a ballot box to set them up as valid votes.

James Lashen, spokesperson for the Taraba Police Command, did not immediately answer calls placed across to him on Sunday. WhatsApp and text messages seeking to get more details had got no response at press time.           Source FIJ