A vaccum has been created in the representation of the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency at the National Assembly following the sad demise of it's elected Representative in the February 25th, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections, late Hon. Ismaila Maihanchi, fondly called 'Commander'.

As the search for  Ismaila Maihanchi's replacement thickens and the electoral clock ticks, many aspirants have continued to indicate their interest to be the candidate of the PDP in the by-election to be conducted by INEC to fill the seat. While all of them maybe eminently qualified  in their right to vie for the seat, there are other important factors I believe the party must take into consideration in picking it's candidate, to consolidate the unprecedented win Ismaila Maihanchi brought, as the constituency had traditionally been a strong hold of the APC.

It's instructive to note that the by-election to replace Hon. Ismaila Maihanchi will be the first election to be supritended by Governor Kefas Agbu and perhaps, State Party Chairman Hon. Abubakar Bawa. The election therefore, must not be lost. And this starts with bequeathing the party's ticket for the position to a better alternative to Maihanchi. I for one, believe that if the party in it's characteristic manner of sometimes granting it's ticket to the relation or spouse of a deceased elected official, will wield it's ticket to any formidable candidate in the Maihanchi's Family, it's sure to record the decisive win Ismaila gave, again. The attendant advantage that will be at play are obvious and enormous.

Not only will the candidate retain Ismaila's support base, but the electorates who voted Ismaila may also transfer the loyalty, confidence, support and solidarity bestowed on Ismaila to the candidate  as well as an added sympathy votes to their support of such a candidate in believe of a political agenda and legacy continuation. This will reflect as an overwhelming block voting for the PDP in the general by-election.

Beyond this, it will save the party the regular bickering, rancour, polarization and sometimes even protests, that becomes of other Aspirants when their party leadership sides with a particular candidate during primaries, and the party has to take a stand. In this instance, it will easily be understandable, justifiable and acceptable that the election had already been won by an Ismaila Maihanchi and it's his replacement that's been sought, therefore settling for a candidate in the deceased's family is as good as taking a seemingly neutral position, to consolidate on the already recorded win.

In all this, the party must settle for a Maihanchi that is not only a loyal party man, but also  credible, accessible, detrabilised and  a receptive leader who can make contacts across party lines to consolidate  these strategic considerations. 

Who fit this bill?

Umar Abdullahi Maihanchi fits the bill.
By every standard and indices of measurement, the robust, altruistic, phenomenal and  people oriented Umar Abdullahi Maihanchi ticks all the boxes and the cap fits him elegantly as a better alternative and the candidate that can bequeath Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency to the PDP and go ahead to justify the confidence of constituents by democratizing opportunities, and advancing people centred legislations and interventions.

 Visionary and Sociable Umar Maihanchi is a top level professional and an accomplished leader of both the private and public sectors with an incredible career spanning over a decade. He currently serves as Director of Finance and Supplies of the Taraba State Local Govt. Service Commission in Jalingo. Umar have held several leadership responsibilities in which he has deployed inherent leadership acumen to deliver and acquitted with excellence. For instance, within 2020 to 2023, Umar Abdullahi Maihanchi has served as the National Vice-President North-East of the Nigerian Youth Organization (NYO). Within 2021 to May  2023, Umar has served as the Jalingo District Society Vice Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) where his impeccable leadership and organizational mastery endeared him to fellow colleagues in the District Society.

 Since the reward for hardworking is more responsibilities of work, Umar's colleagues in the Jalingo District Society of the CITN  on June 27th, 2023 overwhelmingly voted him to be the  Chairman of the Jalingo District Society of the CITN, a capacity where he currently serves. Umar Abdullahi Maihanchi still currently serves as the Vice Chairman, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Taraba State Chapter- a role in which he has been providing sterling leadership since 2021.


 Born on the 26th August, 1974 in Jalingo to the family of Alh. Abdullahi Baba Maihanchi and Hajiya Hafsat, Umar was schooled at Hassan Primary School and Government Science Secondary School Jalingo where he obtained the first school leaving certificate and the senior secondary school certificates. Umar further obtained (Upper Credit) Diploma in Public Accounts and Audit from the Adamawa State Polytechnic Yola in 1997. 

In 2005, Umar A  Maihanchi obtained a B.Sc. Accountancy from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. While at the University of Maiduguri for his Baccalaureate, studious Umar was at various times the President of the Gamji Memorial Club, University of Maiduguri Chapter; Pioneer President, Jalingo Students Association, University of Maiduguri Chapter; and Senator representing Accounting Department at the Students' Representative Assembly (SRA). 


A Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC-Nigeria) and a Fellow of the Association of Financial Analysts of Nigeria; Umar's commitment to lifelong learning and impact saw him attend the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola where he bagged the Masters in Business Administration (Accounting) in 2013. A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified System Accountants, U.S.A. and Associate Member, Society for Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention; Cerebral Umar was also at the Nigerian College of Accounting, Jos - Nigeria, where he acquired a Post Graduate Professional Diploma in Accounting in 2015. A Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN); Umar A. Maihanchi in 2021, again bagged an M.Sc. Accounting with distinction from the Taraba State University, Jalingo. A Man of many caps, Umar A. Maihanchi is also a Certified Financial Specialist with Distinction in Time Management from the London Graduate School and a Fellow of the Certified Institute of Management (FCIM).

An avowed welfarist, Umar A  Maihanchi has been the recipient of numerous local, national and international recognitions and awards including the Northern Peace Foundation's prestigious Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Peace Advancement Award and the Franklin Community and Humanitarian Service Award. 

Having supported numerous young business owners with million naira grants and non-interest loans-  stimulating MSMEs-  encouraging petty trading and the artisans, paid school fees for several  students across levels, facilitated employments to government agencies and admission into tertiary institutions within and outside Taraba, footed too numerous to mention hospital bills and continues to cater for the aged; Umar Maihanchi the silent achiever has come under several pressure to join the contest to replace his late Brother by many Youth and Women Groups, Students and Artisans, Market Women, Community leaders and forward thinking members of the political class who conceive him as a suitable replacement for and the most credible alternative to Ismaila for his various strides in Youth and community empowerments and development. 

In his characteristic focused and diligent attitude to responsibilities at hand, Umar A. Maihanchi hasn't accepted or declined to this many calls and clamors. It appears he is still focused on his current role to better local government administration and governance. However, one thing is certain, that Umar is the one person that can bring the pedigree, agency, organizational acumen, clout and background to record a decisive win for the PDP. It's therefore in the best interest of the PDP to prevail on him to accept the patriotic calls and as well field him as it's candidate in the upcoming by-election to replace Ismaila Maihanchi. By nominating Umar Maihanchi, the party will benefit from Umar's endearing pedigree; unify the party and pacify complex internal party dynamics that comes with candidate nominations; in addition to good name recognition and familiarity, emotional appeal and sympathy, as well as policy agenda continuity and legacy connected with the late Ismaila Maihanchi.

Horsfall Tony, a development & political Consultant shuttles Abuja and Jalingo.