In the quiet border town of Sarti, nestled in the lush Gashaka highlands of Taraba State, a call for political awakening echoed over the weekend as Fanuel D. Lawrence, a rising political figure and aspirant for the Gashaka, Kurmi and Sardauna Federal Constituency seat, urged residents to shake off what he described as “dangerous political apathy” ahead of the 2027 elections.
Lawrence, contesting under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was in Sarti to commission a newly renovated party secretariat, an initiative he solely financed.
The event, which drew a large crowd of supporters, party elders and stakeholders, doubled as a rallying point for political re-engagement in a constituency he says has suffered decades of neglect.
Addressing the gathering, Lawrence challenged eligible voters to reclaim their civic responsibility.
“Don’t just sit down and say your vote doesn’t count,” he told the cheering crowd. “Ensure you get your voter’s card, go out on election day, and make sure your voice counts. By doing so, we will no doubt emerge victorious.”
The aspirant framed his political ambition as a divine mandate, a mission to “wipe away the tears of the people” and “change the narratives” in a constituency that, according to him, has endured years of federal abandonment.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Gashaka, Kurmi and Sardauna, arguably some of the most geographically challenging and remote parts of Taraba, have remained largely cut off from major federal infrastructure. Lawrence blamed this on what he termed the consistent inability of past lawmakers to effectively lobby for developmental projects.
“As a young person exposed to the wider world, I can say our constituency has not been fairly represented,” he said. “Apart from lawmaking, lawmakers must lobby for projects. But if you look critically, no major project has been brought to our constituency.”
His remarks reflect broader frustrations among residents who believe the area’s rugged terrain and distance from the state capital have made it politically expendable.
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Lawrence expressed confidence in the APC’s internal structure, assuring supporters that the party would provide all aspirants with a level playing field ahead of the primaries.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as a democrat committed to justice and the rule of law, and called for unity at all levels of the party as the 2027 elections draw nearer.
APC state chairman, Barrister Tukur Ibrahim El-Sudi, who was present at the commissioning, lauded Lawrence’s personal investment in the renovation of the long-abandoned secretariat. He reiterated the party’s commitment to a credible primary election.
Lawrence’s campaign team leader, Alhaji Tanko Mohammed, echoed the aspirant’s sentiments on political advocacy. He stressed that the team was fully mobilized and working tirelessly to secure victory at the primaries, emphasizing the central role of lobbying and community engagement in the political process.
Several party chieftains who spoke with our correspondent, expressed deep frustration with years of what they described as ineffective representation.
One of them lamented that the constituency remains “one of the most neglected areas in Taraba State,” adding that the people are now more determined than ever to support aspirants capable of delivering meaningful change.
As the 2027 race slowly gathers momentum, Lawrence’s message appears to tap into a growing appetite for new leadership in Nigeria’s hinterlands. Whether this renewed political energy will translate into electoral victory remains to be seen, but for now, in Sarti and beyond, the call to participate has been firmly sounded.
