Not fewer than seven aspirants were cleared to contest for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State at the zonal office of the party in Bauchi State last Thursday.


However, like most states in the country, the geo-politics surrounding the governorship ticket has remained topical ahead of the primaries billed for later this month.


In Taraba State, PDP governorship slot has been one that is rotational. In 1999, Rev Jolly Nyame, from Zing local government area in the northern part of the state emerged governor.

 

After his constitution guaranteed eight years, late Governor Danbaba Suntai from Bali local government area in the central senatorial took over the seat in 2007.


Also, eight years later, incumbent Governor Darius Ishaku from Takum local government area in the southern senatorial zone assumed office in 2015.


By 2023, Ishaku would have completed his term which has sparked fresh concerns about where the ticket might go. While some have argued that the ticket must go back to the northern part of the state, others argue that since the ticket has gone round the zones, there ought to be no rotation any more but for the best aspirant to emerge the party candidate.


However, aspirants have continued to engage the process. Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya; Hikiah Buba Joda; Joseph Albasu Kuni; Bar. Demien Dodo; Victor Bala Kona; Jerom Nyame; and Aminu Ayuba Kotolo were the aspirants screened and cleared by the party’s screening committee to tussle for the governorship ticket.