Jalingo 1 Constituent Writes Hon. Adamu Sarki, Says Opposition Will Reclaim His Seat In 2027

 

Discontent is growing in Jalingo 1 State Constituency as a group of constituents has openly criticisedtheir representative in the Taraba State House of Assembly Hon. Umar Adamu Sarki, over his defection from an opposition party to the ruling party, describing the move as a breach of trust and a distortion of the mandate given by the people. 

In a detailed open letter, Comrade Mansur Bello in Jalingo said the lawmaker was elected on the platform of what they described as the “strongest opposition party” in the state, stressing that voters deliberately chose that platform to ensure checks and balances, as well as effective oversight of government activities.

According to them, the decision to defect was taken without prior consultation with the electorate, noting that there was no town hall meeting, stakeholder engagement, or public explanation before the move was made.

“Midway into the journey, you decamped to the government’s party, leaving the opinion of the people in darkness. One day we had an opposition voice; the next day that voice was sitting with the majority,” the statement read.

The group said the development has created what they described as a “deep trust deficit” across the constituency, particularly in communities such as Turaki A, Sintali, Barade, Mayogwai, and Turaki B, where residents now feel politically sidelined.

They argued that the defection has weakened legislative representation from the area, claiming that motions that should challenge the executive, questions meant to probe government actions, and oversight responsibilities have been “blunted” by the lawmaker’s alignment with the ruling party.

Drawing comparisons with past political developments, the constituents recalled that Hon. Abubakar Yahuza, who represented the constituency after emerging on an opposition platform in 2019, remained with his party throughout his tenure and recontested under the same platform in 2023.

While he did not win re-election, they noted that he left office with what they described as “political integrity intact,” adding that the electorate respects consistency over what they termed “shifting allegiance for convenience.”

“The lesson from 2023 is clear: Jalingo 1 voters pay attention to party loyalty, and they respond decisively to what they see as betrayal of mandate,” the group stated.

They further described representation as a “contract” between the electorate and the elected official, arguing that the lawmaker’s defection effectively altered the terms of that contract without the consent of the people.

As a result, the constituents declared their intention to support an opposition candidate in the 2027 general elections, insisting that the constituency needs a representative whose political alignment is stable and whose loyalty remains with the electorate.

“We need a legislator whose voice remains with the people who sent him, and whose mandate will not be traded without consultation,” they added.

Despite their grievances, the group urged the lawmaker to utilisethe remainder of his tenure to engage constituents, complete ongoing constituency projects, and demonstrate commitment to development.

They, however, cautioned that rebuilding trust would be difficult, noting that political confidence, once lost, is rarely regained at the ballot box.

As of the time of filing this report, the lawmaker had yet to publicly respond to the concerns raised, while political observers say the development could shape early alignments and voter sentiment ahead of the 2027 elections in the constituency.