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PDP’S BADAWAIRE WINS ARDO KOLA CHAIRMANSHIP, PROMISES INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Mohammed Tikka
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Umar Bello Badawaire, has been declared winner of the Ardo Kola Local Government Council election in Taraba State after a peaceful and highly participatory voting exercise across the area.
Badawaire, who polled a total of 47,348 votes, defeated his opponents by a wide margin in an election widely described as peaceful and transparent.
The poll, organized by the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC), witnessed impressive voter turnout across polling units such as Kpanti Yali, Wuro Baka, and Sabon Layi
Several political leaders also participated in the exercise. Alhaji Hamman Adama Tukur, a respected stakeholder in the area, voted at the Kpanti Yali polling unit, while Hon. Mohammed Lauya, member representing Lau, Ardo Kola, and Karim Lamido Federal Constituency, cast his ballot at Sabon Layi. Hon. Lauya commended TSIEC for a credible process and praised Governor Agbu Kefas for his leadership and developmental focus in the state.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman-elect, Hon. Badawaire, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the victory and thanked Governor Agbu Kefas for his trust and encouragement.
He also appreciated Alhaji Hamman Adama Tukur, PDP stakeholders, and the people of Ardo Kola for their overwhelming support.
Umar Bello Badawaire
Badawaire pledged to run an administration that prioritizes security, healthcare, education, and youth empowerment, emphasizing that the welfare of residents would remain his top concern.
Long before venturing into politics, Hon. Badawaire had already earned a reputation for his selfless community service and philanthropic gestures across Ardo Kola.
He personally funded and supervised numerous local development projects aimed at improving the lives of rural dwellers.
Among his notable contributions is the rehabilitation of several boreholes that had been abandoned for years in communities such as Wuro Baka and other rural settlements.
His intervention restored access to clean and safe drinking water for hundreds of households who had struggled with water scarcity for a long time.
He also supported the rehabilitation and upgrading of several primary health centres across the local government, ensuring that residents, especially women and children could access basic healthcare services closer to their homes.
Many of these facilities, previously in poor condition, now function better through his personal donations.
Additionally, Hon. Badawaire has facilitated the construction of culverts and small bridges that link remote farming communities, easing transportation challenges for local traders and improving access to markets.
He is also well known for extending assistance to widows, orphans, and underprivileged families through cash support and empowerment materials.
Following his declaration as chairman-elect, Badawaire reaffirmed his commitment to expanding these humanitarian efforts across all wards in Ardo Kola.
He directed local engineers to identify and repair other broken-down boreholes and pledged to continue supporting health facilities before officially assuming office.
According to him, development should not wait for political office. “Serving humanity is a duty, not a position,” he said.
Residents across the area have described his victory as a well-deserved reward for years of selfless service, humility, and dedication to the welfare of his people.
The Ardo Kola election, regarded as one of the most peaceful in recent memory, stands as a testament to Taraba’s growing commitment to grassroots democracy and community-driven governance
