The fearless and outspoken member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Yusuf Babayo Gagdi has declared that he would be setting yet another record with reelection victory come 2027
In an exclusive interview on Rhythm FM’s flagship program “Viewpoint” on Saturday monitored by Trill Times News, the confident Gagdi boasted that ““I will break the record for the third time in PKK. By God grace, the people will vote for me. I am not afraid of anyone contesting against me.”
Gagdi who made history with reelection in 2023 as the first person to be elected twice to represent PKK has set his sights on extending this record by contesting the third time
PKK adopted a rotational agreement between the three Local Governments under the famous Ngas slang “cham lok lok”. Under the agreement which Gagdi himself used to campaign against his predecessor, Hon Timothy Golu, members were not allowed reelection but all that were to change in 2023 when Gagdi in a landslide victory broke the jinx.
A vocal critic of Gov Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Gagdi seem to have aimed a dig at the governor who many political pundits believe is nurturing the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Gabriel K. Dewan as Gagdi’s opponent in the forthcoming general elections
Dewan, from Plateau Central, just like Gov Mutfwang, going by Plateau State’s political sharing formula shouldn’t have been the Speaker of the House. The Speaker should have come from the Southern zone of the state.
Although a minority (YPP) in the 24 House of Assembly dominated by 22 APC members and only one LP member, Dewan has enjoined Gov Mutfwang’s protection to continue to serve as the Speaker. This, many believe is to afford Dewan the financial cloud and prestige to battle with Gagdi who is both financially buoyant and deeply rooted among his supporters
Speaking on his relationship with Gov Mutfwang, Gagdi clarified that “I have no personal issues with Governor Mutfwang, nor have I ever undermined him. My only concern is with some of his policies.”
Gagdi whose constituency road project was halted by the Mutfwang’s administration for illegal encroachment and unlawful take over of the same project from the state government reiterated that ” today if I see Gov Mutfwang with a bag, I will collect and hold it for him. I always bow to greet him as my leader. That is how much I respect him but his policies and programs are not yielding the necessary dividends of democracy”
The former Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly impliedly berated Gov Mutfwang’s performance and opined that his criticism of the governor is helping him wakes up from his slumber. “People from my party have called me to stop criticizing Gov. Mutfwang because I am waking him up to work. They want me to allow him fail so that our party can have an easy ride in 2027. But what I want is development for plateau, particularly the constituency I represent, PKK.”
A leading opposition voice in the state, Gagdi who was reputable for the inglorious boastful statement “we know who they know but they do not know who we know” when the 2023 political fights shifted from the polling units to the Courts, will have to work harder to break his own record for reelection when he squares up Dewan who seems to be marching Gagdi money for money and strategy for strategy
