As Political activities intensify ahead of the 2023 General Elections, many factors are expected to influence the decisions of the dominant political actors as to the variables that will determine the emergence of candidates.
There seem to be calculations and recalculations across the State. The unwritten law of zoning and rotation has given Plateau Central Senatorial Zone the advantage, considering that the other zones appear to have conceded the Governorship position to the LGAs of the zone.
In the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arguments have characterized discussions as to which LGA should get what. There are no shortage of aspirants for Governorship, Senate and the two House of Representatives of Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam and Mangu/Bokkos.
This article is not out to dig into the issues in the zone but beams the search lights on Kanam LGA. It is important to note that Kanam LGA is yet to produce a Senator, haven already produced two members of the House of Representatives from 1999-till date.
While others have decided to retreat to recontest the House of Representatives Primaries, there seems to be a twist in the political landscape of the LGA with a surprise and bold emergence of Hon Hansi H. Suleiman, a former Special Adviser to the Governor of Plateau State and Commissioner (I) Local Government Service Commission, who has taken the bull by the horn to gun for the ticket of the PDP to represent Plateau Central Senatorial Zone.
Being the sole Senatorial aspirant under the platform of the PDP from Kanam LGA, he is bringing to the game his experience, haven contested the House of Representatives primaries twice. Political fair winds seem to be favouring Hon Hansi considering that Kanam is the wooing bride in the Zone ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
Loyalty seems to be the determining factor especially for delegates from Kanam LGA who see Hansi has a loyal party man, a critical stakeholder who has continued to support the party despite the odds. In 2019, stakeholders and delegates argued that their support for the then incumbent Hon Timothy Golu (Now leading Guber Aspirant) was with the understanding that Kanam in 2023 will be considered in the calculations, Alas for something higher than the House of Representatives.
This factor gives Hon Hansi Suleiman the edge over others aspirants gunning for House of Representatives who are considered New entrants haven spent fewer number years compared to Hon Hansi Suleiman has spent investing and supporting the PDP especially in Kanam LGA. If the delegates from Kanam make true their intentions of voting massively for their own, Hon Hansi Suleiman will be coming to the negotiations table with a war chest of majority of the votes from his LGA, while attracting heavy sympathy from LGAs like Kanke (the closest neighbor and political ally), Bokkos and Mangu that Kanam has supported in the past to produce HE Sen Ibrahim Nasiru Mantu (of blessed memory) and HE Sen Joshua Dariye.
Arguably, the three LGAs seem to have conceded their Senatorial aspiration in part to gain the advantage in other positions, though their are aspirants from Bokkos and Pankshin who are for Guber, Senate and House of Reps.
However, Hon Hansi Suleiman is in pole position to clinch the ticket of the PDP considering that the political arguments suffice that Mangu, Bokkos and Kanke LGAs have all produced Senators, while the rotation for the House of Representatives in PKK is expected to favour Pankshin LGA.
If Loyalty and experience are to be the determining factors ahead of the party primaries coming up within the next fourteen days, Hon Hansi Suleiman may emerge the PDP candidate for Plateau Central Senatorial Zone.
Nigeria Star News 