LG Election in Nasarawa: Uncertainty grips aspirants, incumbent chairmen over reelection

From Francis Nansak,Lafia

Ahead of the February2021, local government election in Nasarawa state,as scheduled by the Nasarawa state independent electoral Commission (NASIEC) there has been palpable fear and uncertainty among some of the aspirants , especially those of the opposition parties.

These fear and uncertainty still lives with some of the incumbent local government chairmen whose performances in the past three years have no meaningful impact on their electorates and in the community.

Though there are attempts by some politicians who are eyeing to replace the present occupants of the various local government top positions in the state,they are however ,not certain from their body languages,even as the election is less than a month.

There is hardly any visible sign pointing to the fact that election would hold come February,as most of those who had pested posters indicating interest for election have remained quite,while the incumbent chairmen take advantage of their being in government to forge on with empowerment and developmental programmes that leaves the electorates more confused about making a choice.

Earlier the state Governor , Engineer Abdullahi Sule,at some functions had said that the people should choose or elect only those that can deliver and had performed by contributing to the development of their community and not those who for want of power joined the race for leadership.

These statement by the governor,was viewed by some of the incumbent chairmen as directly campaigning against them,which in recent time, the governor had also made clarification on the statement,saying it was not directed at them.

Nevertheless,the poor performances of some of the chairmen would trail them if the election holds ,as there may be likely replacement with some newly elected candidates,this is to enable the people ripe the dividends of democracy,which the present administration has always represented.

The likely local government areas that may have replacement or the incumbent loosing out their seat as our findings revealed are Doma, Nasarawa,Nasarawa Eggon,Awe,Keffi and Kokona local government areas.

But for any aspirant seeking to replace these chairmen,Lafia and Karu local government,would take the grace of God ,reason being that of all the 13 local government areas in the state,the two are both vibrant sources of revenue to the state and the chairmen too,have also lived up to expectations in terms of good governance.