Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Numan federation have identified politicization of insecurity, imposition of unpopular candidates, failed promises and lack of synergy between political office holders and their constituencies as some of the factors that led to the defeat of the party in the 2019 general elections in the area.
The stakeholders made the revelation during an APC constituency outreach at Galaxy hotel in Demsa.
The event which was organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI) supported by the United States Agency for International Development parleys stakeholders who brainstorm on the prospects, challenges and way forward in order to enhance checks and balances in the political process vis a vis the entrenchment of good governance in the polity.
Enumerating some of the reasons for the party’s defeat, a senior stakeholder, Hon. Eucharia Solomon said some of the major factors that led to the woeful outing of the party include politicization of insecurity, imposition of unpopular candidates and failed promises.
“People rejected us not on the alter of religion or ethnicity but on account of our failure to address insecurity, imposition of unpopular candidates and lack of commitment to the general welfare of the people.
“The biggest issue is farmers/herders conflict which is our core challenge in this part of the state, ” she said.
While dissecting her manifesto, Hon Sophia Elisha who is aspiring for the Chairmanship of Numan local government under the party, noted that; her core agenda is to ensure that peace between the diverse people is restored noting that no meaningful development can be attained in the absence of peace.
“In all honesty, our party was defeated because of social insecurity and that is why if I win the election, I will ensure the restoration of peace through dialogue with all stakeholders including village heads, district heads and security operatives.
” I will also ensure that water, agricultural and healthcare sectors are adequately revamped for the benefit of all our citizens,” she said.
She promised to ensure that education and empowerment programmes are vigorously pursued noting that without an enlightened and empowered citizens, peace will be hard to achieve.
The stakeholders however noted with respite that despite the setbacks, the party has done well in the areas of youth and women empowerment, agriculture and infrastructure.
A senior stakeholder of the party, Jasmen P Bidas expressed optimism that the party will bounce back better and energized to wrestle power from PDP going by its surfeit of achievements in the area.
“I’m more than 100 percent sure that APC will win the next local government election in Numan because, despite the enumerated setbacks, the party has done well in many sectors.
” We have already kick started massive house to house campaign to sensitize the people about the need to vote for us because we are now reformed and set to give the people a fair deal.
“We will ensure that only trusted people will fly our flag so as to address some of the mistakes of the past where the electorates were taken for a ride after election,” he said.
Various speakers hailed the party for the unprecedented feats it recorded in the areas of human empowerment, provision of infrastructure, and intervention in agricultural development.
