By Kamal Hammajo
In Taraba State, political parties often function less as ideological platforms and more as temporary lodgings for politicians, like hotel rooms for tourists, entered and exited depending on where interests are best served. This reality played out yet again with the recent defection of three members of the Taraba State House of Assembly, including the representative of Jalingo One Constituency.
For many, such moves may appear surprising. But for anyone who follows the political trajectory of Jalingo One, this development is hardly unexpected.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not party affiliation that divides Nigerian politicians. Rather, it is personal ambition and the influence of political godfathers. Jalingo One provides a clear example. The constituency is one of the strongest voting blocs in Taraba State. Its people are politically conscious and protective of their votes. Yet, they have also cultivated a tradition of allowing only one tenure per representative.
This one-tenure culture has come at a cost. While the people exercise their voting power, the constituency remains trapped in a cycle of limited influence at the State Assembly. Over the past decade, Jalingo One has watched as constituency projects were reduced to promises rather than tangible development. Had former members such as Hon. Hassan Bappa or Hon. Ibrahim Adamu Imam secured a second term, Jalingo One might well have produced the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, or another senior legislative leader. Instead, the constituency continues to lose out.
For Hon. Sarki Adamu Sunkani, the decision to defect is a calculated one. The history is clear. From Hon. Hassan Bappa to Hon. Ibrahim Adamu Imam, lawmakers who entered the Assembly under opposition platforms eventually joined the ruling party to secure relevance. Politicians in Jalingo, being at the center of the State’s political life, cannot afford to remain in opposition for long. The demands of constituents, often financial and immediate, make survival outside the ruling party nearly impossible.
The question, then, is not why Hon. Sarki chose to leave NNPP, but why he chose the PDP. At the Federal level, APC remains the ruling party and could have provided a stronger shield if he had the right connections. However, at the State level, PDP remains in control. Aligning with the State ruling party offers him a safer and easier platform to maintain political relevance, even if it means prioritizing survival over constituency loyalty.
Yet, this strategy is not without risk. PDP’s influence in Taraba has waned considerably after a decade of unmet promises and governance failures. Combined with the one-tenure tradition of Jalingo One, Hon. Sarki’s future in the constituency is far from secure.
One of Jalingo’s unique strengths lies in its non-tribalistic political culture. The people are united in their choices, backing candidates regardless of origin, ethnicity or political banner. Once chosen, a leader enjoys full support. But this same unity also fuels the one-tenure tradition, which leaves the constituency without long-term representation in State Assembly.
The unfolding question is simple but critical: Who will emerge as the strongest candidate for Jalingo One in the next election, and from which party?
Until then, Jalingo One remains a constituency of immense political strength but limited political reward, caught between loyalty to tradition and the harsh realities of Nigeria’s political landscape.
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