Ex-Toto LG Chairman Tashas Withdraws from APC Assembly Primaries, Alleges Marginalisation

The immediate past Executive Chairman of Toto Local Government Area, Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi Tashas, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Toto/Gadabuke State Assembly seat, citing alleged insincerity among party leaders and the political marginalisation of the Gade people.

Tashas announced his withdrawal on Tuesday shortly after attending a stakeholders’ meeting involving five aspirants at the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Lafia.

The former council chairman accused some APC stakeholders and government officials in Toto Local Government of promoting hypocrisy, selfishness and injustice capable of weakening the party ahead of future elections.

According to him, the decision to step down from the race was taken collectively with his supporters after observing what he described as an unfair political arrangement within the area.

He explained that discussions at the SSG’s office centred on building consensus among the aspirants ahead of the party primaries.

Tashas said he strongly advocated for the zoning of the Assembly ticket to Gadabuke District in the interest of fairness and equity, noting that Toto District had dominated political positions in the constituency for decades.

“Toto District has occupied the Assembly seat for about 20 years, while Gadabuke District has only had four years. For justice and fairness, the ticket should be zoned to Gadabuke,” he stated.

He further argued that relying solely on APC membership strength in Toto town to determine the party’s candidate might secure victory at the primaries but would not necessarily guarantee success at the general election.

“You can use APC membership cards to determine who gets the ticket, but that cannot guarantee victory in the general election,” he said.

The former Special Adviser to the Governor disclosed that efforts to reach a consensus among the aspirants failed despite additional time granted for consultations.

According to him, a committee comprising the Chairman of Toto Local Government, former Toto LG Chairman Zakari O. Sani, former Director-General of the Pension Board Usman Adams, retired military officers and other stakeholders was constituted to engage the aspirants.

However, Tashas criticised the committee’s approach, describing it as lacking political depth.

“The committee ended up scoring aspirants like it was a football competition instead of asking each aspirant why they want to contest and what plans they have for the people,” he said.

He lamented what he termed the political exclusion of the Gade people and Gadabuke District in the current administration, insisting that there was an urgent need for balanced representation in elective and appointive positions.

“My point at the meeting was that the Gade people are not adequately represented in this government. Toto District already has the SSG, the Executive Chairman, Permanent Secretaries and now the senatorial ticket,” he added.

Tashas maintained that even if he was not considered for the Assembly ticket, justice demanded that the position be ceded to Gadabuke District.

While announcing his withdrawal from the race, he wished the remaining aspirants success in the APC primaries.

He also commended prominent political figures from Toto District, including Shuaib Faisal, Arc. Abu Seze and Alhaji Musa Muhammed Maikaya, for supporting fairness and equitable distribution of political offices in the area.

“The Gade Nation will not forget those who stood for fairness and justice above partisan interests. Time will tell, because every good or bad deed has its reward,” he said.

Tashas further recalled that during the last APC local government executive formation, the Gade people reportedly received only two positions out of more than 20 slots despite being one of the three major ethnic groups in Toto Local Government Area.

He noted that aside from councillorship positions and the recent appointment of an Administrator for Gadabuke, the Gade people currently hold no significant elective or appointive office in the area.