ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for Taraba South Senatorial District and Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency have unveiled an ambitious legislative agenda anchored on the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge, improved healthcare, infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment and peacebuilding in Southern Taraba.
The senatorial candidate for Taraba South, Dr Jesse Adi Ashumate, and the House of Representatives candidate for Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency, TPL Mukhtar Usman Galadima, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while formally declaring their campaigns for the 2027 National Assembly elections.
Galadima, who identified the completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge as one of his immediate priorities, said the project was critical to reconnecting Taraba with Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.
He also placed healthcare at the top of his agenda, revealing that a 50-bed medical facility was expected to become operational before the end of the year.
“Health first, then the bridges,” Galadima declared, stressing that his priority was to improve the living conditions of constituents through legislation and strategic collaboration with relevant authorities.
According to him, the healthcare facility would be linked to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) framework to enable residents to access affordable medical services.
The PDP candidate lamented the infrastructural deficit in the constituency, particularly the poor condition of roads linking Southern Taraba with neighbouring states.
He said effective legislative representation would be deployed to attract federal intervention and ensure the completion of critical projects.
“We are not executives. We are legislators. But through dialogue, collaboration, consultation and cooperation, we will attract development to our area,” Galadima said.
He also promised to tackle insecurity and communal tensions through regular town hall meetings and structured dialogue among communities.
Galadima said he would establish a Constituency Consultative Assembly with offices across the wards, local government areas and constituency headquarters to ensure continuous engagement with the people.
On his part, Ashumate said his legislative agenda would focus heavily on youth empowerment, agriculture, employment generation and strengthening unity among the diverse communities of Southern Taraba.
The former Taraba Commissioner for Finance said agriculture remained one of the fastest ways to create sustainable economic opportunities for young people in the region.
“Agriculture-related activities, if promoted, will economically empower the youth of the Southern zone,” he said.
Ashumate also pledged to sponsor legislation capable of attracting development to Southern Taraba, while using his experience in government to push for employment and economic opportunities for constituents.
He said his previous record in government demonstrated his commitment to youth empowerment, noting that several young people were employed into government agencies during his tenure as commissioner.
The senatorial candidate further promised to work towards bridging ethnic and communal divides that had contributed to prolonged conflicts in parts of Southern Taraba.
He said his vision was to build a society where residents could live peacefully, engage freely in economic activities and benefit directly from government projects.
Both candidates said their decision to contest the 2027 elections followed calls from constituents for what they described as credible, accessible and effective representation.
They also pledged to maintain functional constituency offices and remain accessible to constituents if elected.
The candidates said their campaigns would comply with electoral regulations, adding that their emergence was intended to provide the people of Southern Taraba with a stronger voice at the National Assembly.
