By Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Taraba State, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, popularly known as Danji SS, has inaugurated his campaign council in Jalingo.
Speaking at the unveiling, Shiddi charged members of the council to work together and remain committed to the campaign, with particular emphasis on effective grassroots mobilisation. He urged them to take the party’s message to communities across the state and engage voters on issues concerning their welfare and development.
He called for a peaceful, issue-based campaign and urged his supporters and campaign officials to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electoral process. Shiddi said the campaign would engage communities across Taraba and present the party’s programmes and development agenda to the electorate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The unveiling marks a major step in APGA’s preparations for the governorship contest, with the newly constituted council expected to coordinate the party’s mobilisation and campaign activities across the state. The council is expected to drive the APGA campaign and coordinate grassroots mobilisation across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Those inaugurated include Prof. Ambrose A. Zemba, Director-General; Mr. Kabiru Mohammed Shuaibu, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Samaila Yakubu, popularly known as Young JP, Deputy Director-General, Southern Zone; Mr. Umaru Emmanuel, Director of Communications and Strategy; Mr. Almajiri Leonard Wilson, Director of Youth Mobilisation and Strategy; Hanifatu Sani, Director of Women Mobilisation and Support Groups; Mr. Abubakar Umar Sunkan, Director of Mobilisation and Support Groups; Mr. Onuorah Peter, popularly known as Chesco Federal, Director of Resident Communities Mobilisation and Support Groups; Barrister Yakubu Andesiunde, Director of Legal Services; and Hon. Salamatu Abubakar, Director of Grassroots Women Mobilisation, Religious and Community Leaders.
In a similar development, the governorship candidate unveiled the party’s campaign office on Thursday. The event, held at Nyamusala, Jalingo, the state capital, attracted a mammoth crowd. The unveiling was part of the party’s move to strengthen its structures and intensify grassroots mobilisation across the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shiddi, popularly known as Danji SS, thanked APGA members for their loyalty and commitment. He urged them to remain united and rally behind all the party’s candidates in the state to ensure victory. He was joined by party leaders and supporters during the official unveiling ceremony.
He also condemned the alleged attack on some of his supporters by suspected thugs, describing political violence as unacceptable and a threat to democracy. He called on security operatives in the state to ensure the safety of political actors and their supporters during the campaign period.
The APGA governorship candidate appealed to youths and political stakeholders in the state to embrace peace and issue-based campaigns.
“Taraba youths should reject violence and embrace tolerance and responsible participation. The 2027 election should focus on ideas, development, good governance, justice and fairness rather than violence and intimidation,” he said.
Shiddi stressed that the collective progress of Taraba State should remain central to political engagement as parties seek the mandate of the electorate.
Also speaking, the APGA senatorial candidate for Taraba South, Hon. Afiniki Yarima, described the unveiling of the campaign office as a signal of the party’s success in 2027. She urged party members and supporters to remain committed to grassroots mobilisation and to be law-abiding.
Yarima reaffirmed her commitment to providing quality representation for the people of southern Taraba and to supporting Shiddi in delivering the dividends of democracy to the state if given the mandate. She called on all politicians and their supporters to be peaceful and to focus on issue-based campaigns for a peaceful transition in 2027.