The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District in the 2027 general election, Barrister Imamudeen Ahmed Talba, has vowed to unseat Senator Ahmad Lawan
Talba stated this while speaking with journalists at the inauguration of the party’s Unified Campaign Council and commissioning of its new state secretariat in Damaturu
He said he was persuaded to contest the seat by people from the district who, according to him, were demanding a change after years of representation by Lawan
Talba said he was not initially interested in politics but accepted the call to contest after people in the district approached him
“If the people, if my people decide to invite me to contest, which I said no, and they insisted, that means they are ready for me to take over,” he said
He said the people had expressed a desire for a new representative who would bring fresh ideas and address the challenges confronting the senatorial district
“Let somebody new take over and let’s see what we can get, something new, so that we can achieve what we want to achieve,” he said
Talba said Yobe North was faced with challenges including poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure and inadequate educational opportunities
He said the zone lacked industries and other sources of employment for youths who graduate from schools
The ADC candidate said he would prioritise economic development, agriculture and infrastructure if elected
He said efforts would be made to support farmers, revive economic activities and attract federal government intervention to the senatorial district
Talba also called for the rehabilitation of the Nguru-Kano railway, saying it could boost the movement of agricultural produce and livestock and revive economic activities in the area
He said the Northern Nigeria Meat Factory in Nguru should also be revived, adding that an agricultural development framework previously studied with Korean partners should be revisited
“If we come on board, we are going to sit down and work on the economic development framework for the zone, and even for the state,” he said
He said he would identify projects requiring federal intervention and pursue them, while also engaging the state government on matters within its responsibility
On healthcare, Talba said he would prioritise the kidney-related health challenges affecting communities in the senatorial district
He said research had been conducted into the causes of the disease but more action was needed to address the problem
According to him, some residents from Gashua, Nguru and other communities travel long distances to access dialysis treatment
He promised to push for the provision of diagnostic and dialysis facilities in Nguru, Gashua and other areas if elected
“Having done the research, identifying the causes, why shouldn’t we work out and check the causes? If it’s water or something else, why shouldn’t we work on it?” he said
Talba said his decision to contest was motivated by his desire to serve the people and not for personal gain
“I was here to serve the people, not for myself I didn’t come into politics for myself,” he said.
The state leader of the ADC, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, said the party had inaugurated a 57-member Unified Campaign Council to coordinate its campaigns for the 2027 elections
Waziri said the council would coordinate campaigns for the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in Yobe State