In a resounding victory, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has secured all chairmanship positions in the recently concluded local government (LG) council election in Taraba State.
The election, held on Saturday, witnessed a fierce battle among six political parties vying for both chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 168 electoral wards spanning the 16 local government areas of the state.
The Chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC), Mr. Philip Duwe, officially declared the outcome, announcing a clean sweep by the PDP. Duwe, in his statement, encouraged those with grievances to utilize the established election petition tribunal to seek redress, ensuring a transparent and fair process for addressing concerns.
However, amidst the celebrations in the PDP camp, the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised allegations of irregularities during the election, calling for the total cancellation of the poll results. The APC’s claims have sparked a heated debate within the political landscape, with the PDP responding by urging the APC to resolve its internal disputes before protesting the election’s outcome.
The backdrop for this electoral showdown was the dissolution of the former local government chairmen, prompted by the expiration of their tenure and a reduction in their service years from three to two by the state government. This move set the stage for a highly competitive race to fill these crucial positions, with the PDP emerging victorious across the board.
In a significant development, the Taraba State government is gearing up to swear in the newly elected chairmen for all 16 local government areas on Monday. This swearing-in ceremony is seen as a pivotal step towards granting full autonomy to the local government units, underscoring the commitment to decentralize governance and empower grassroots communities in the state.
As the dust settles on this hotly contested election, all eyes are now on the local government chairmen as they assume their roles, with expectations running high for positive changes and improved governance at the grassroots level in Taraba State.
