Taraba South Stakeholders Rally Support for High Chief Afukonyo’s 2027 Senate Bid Under APC
Stakeholders across the five Local Government Areas of Taraba South Senatorial District have intensified calls for the emergence of High Chief Ezekiel Irmiya Afukonyo as Senator in 2027 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The call, which is gaining momentum in Wukari, Ibi, Donga, Takum, and Ussa, is reportedly backed by a broad coalition of elites, traditional opinion leaders, women groups, youth associations, entrepreneurs, faith-based leaders, and grassroots mobilizers within the district.
In a statement signed by “Concerned Stakeholders of Taraba South Senatorial District,” the group described Afukonyo as a strategic choice for the region, citing his over three decades of experience spanning national security, diplomacy, governance, and institutional leadership.
According to the stakeholders, Taraba South, known for its rich cultural heritage and vast agricultural potential, requires dynamic federal representation capable of unlocking development opportunities and aligning the district with national growth priorities.
They referenced Afukonyo’s administrative track record, particularly his leadership contributions at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, noting that his tenure reflected competence, accountability, and results-oriented management.
The group further emphasized that his candidacy under the APC would not only strengthen party cohesion in Taraba South but also strategically position the district to benefit from federal policies and development initiatives championed by the ruling party.
“Contesting under the APC offers the strongest institutional structure to drive development-focused legislation, attract federal projects, and ensure sustainable political stability in the district,” the statement read.
Highlighting key expectations ahead of 2027, the stakeholders said youths in the district are demanding economic empowerment, digital inclusion, and job creation, while women are advocating for improved access to capital, stronger policy protections, and enhanced social support systems. Farmers, they added, require legislative backing for agricultural financing, mechanization, and rural infrastructure, while communities continue to prioritize peace, security, and inclusive growth.
They described Afukonyo as a people-oriented leader whose philanthropic interventions in education, empowerment, and humanitarian services have earned him cross-community respect and credibility.
The movement, according to the statement, transcends political ambition and represents a people-driven mandate anchored on performance and capacity.
The stakeholders therefore urged APC leaders at the state, zonal, and national levels to recognize what they termed “overwhelming grassroots support” for Afukonyo’s senatorial aspiration.
They concluded that Taraba South deserves experienced and compassionate representation at the National Assembly and expressed confidence that Afukonyo’s emergence under the APC would align the district more strategically with national opportunities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
