One of the leading candidates in the ongoing bye-election for the House of Representatives in the Jalingo/Yoro/Zing federal constituency, Hon. Innocent Jabanyang of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has voluntarily stepped down his ambition to support the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Sadiq Abbas, in the ongoing bye-election.
LEADERSHIP gathered that Jabanyang was earlier endorsed by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The same religious body advised Hon. Jabanyang to step down for the PDP candidate.
When contacted, the CAN chairman in the state, Rev. Magaji Jirapye, dismissed the speculation in an interview with LEADERSHIP on Saturday in Jalingo, the state capital.
The ongoing bye-election followed the death of Ismaila Maihanchi, who won the February 25, 2023, election.
Mr. Jirapye said that Jabanyang willingly stepped down after the governor consulted him a few hours before the election; he said CAN was only informed after his decision.
“CAN was informed about the decision because of our earlier resolve to support the aspiration of the SDP candidate. When he willingly decided to withdraw to support the PDP candidate, the governor reached out to us because of our earlier resolve, and we held a meeting with the SDP candidate, and he confirmed his decision to us. CAN did not force him to step down,” Jirapye said.
All efforts to reach Jabanyang through phone calls and text messages proved abortive. LEADERSHIP observed that the rerun election was marred by a low turnout of voters in the various polling units and wards.
Our correspondent, who monitored the election, reported that people were seen going about their normal activities, and there were scanty voters in the polling units visited.
Though security personnel and INEC ad-hoc staff were on the ground at the various polling units and wards visited, there was largely voter apathy.
The major contenders in the election are Sadiq Abbas of the PDP, Aminu Liman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), and Aminu Malle of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
