Deaf and dumb man wins APC primary in Taraba

Four persons living with disabilities have emerged as winners for councillorship poll in the upcoming local government and ward primary elections conducted by the All Progressives Congress in Taraba.

The state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Hassan Ardo, confirmed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Jalingo while fielding questions on the conduct of the primaries.

Ardo explained that a deaf and dump man won the election in Mutum Biyu ward of Gassol Local Government Area.

He said that three other physically challenged persons also clinched the ticket to contest for councillorship in Jalingo Local Government Area.

The state independent electoral commission had scheduled the local council election for February 11, 2017.

According to the APC chairman, 33 aspirants contested for the position of chairman in the 16 local government areas of the state, while 244 aspirants vied for councillorship in the 168 wards during the primaries.

He said the primaries were conducted peacefully across the state, adding that no complain was received from any aspirant.

Beside, Ardo said opposition parties had agreed to participate in the council polls based on the promise of the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission that the election was going to be free, fair and credible.

He said, “The Chairman of the Commission, Dr Philip Duwe, I know is a man of his words and based on that I believe he is going to conduct a credible local government election and we are not expecting anything short of that.”

He said the APC has remained a leading political party in the state even though not in government, adding that it has the support of the people.

However, the chairman advised the security agencies to remain neutral during the council election.

He said, “We will not accept a repeat of what happened during the 2015 general election where security agents compromised at their duty post in favour a certain political party.”