The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, has officially declared his intention to seek a third term in office.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Jos on Saturday, the lawmaker addressed the swirling debates regarding local power-sharing agreements, asserting that his decision is rooted in his fundamental legal rights.
Hon Gagdi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissed the relevance of “zoning” to his current aspirations, arguing that the concept of zoning is not recognized by the Nigerian Constitution, which remains the supreme guide for eligibility and democratic participation.
According to the lawmaker, no internal arrangement can supersede the constitutional right of a citizen to stand for election, noting that his track record during his current and previous tenures provides the necessary momentum for his re-election bid.
Speaking further, Gagdi maintained that his performance in office has been impactful enough to justify a return to the National Assembly, stating that the electorate should be allowed to judge him based on his delivery of democratic dividends rather than rotational sentiments.
However, while addressing recent protests against his third-term bid, Gagdi alleged that the demonstrations were not spontaneous expressions of public will, instead, he characterized the protesters as sponsored by political opponents.
He claimed that those behind the agitations lack the capacity to engage in a legitimate campaign and are resorting to orchestrated unrest to undermine his candidacy.
Our correspondent reports that as the political atmosphere in Plateau State intensifies ahead of the next electoral cycle, Gagdi’s stance sets the stage for a heated debate over the balance between informal political traditions and statutory rights.
For now, the lawmaker remains firm that the decision of who represents the constituency rests solely with the voters at the polls.