Rights Monitoring Group, a coalition of 45 civil society organisations, has urged the ruling Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP), to give priority to the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, in the state’s governorship election next year.
The National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, made the call in Lagos, while briefing journalists on internal democracy in the political parties as a major challenge in 2015 elections.
Aduwo, who delved into the ongoing scheming for Taraba State governorship, said there was need for the PDP and the people of the state to allow Umar clinch the party’s ticket for the race.
He noted that since his assumption of office, the acting governor had saved more than N20 billion for the state and settled all debts, including bank drafts.
“These are some of the qualities of a good leader, considering the fact that the state had almost been thrown into turmoil until his assumption of office,” he stressed.
The activist also reasoned that since Nigeria’s presidential system of government was modeled after the system in the United States, what applied over there in terms of politics should also be applicable in Nigeria, adding that a sitting governor or president should be given the opportunity to run for a second term unless he chooses otherwise.
Aduwo said: “For stability, the acting governor must be allowed to contest. I urge the PDP leadership to do the needful in this regard. Since he assumed office in acting capacity, he has demonstrated high level of transparency and accountability in managing the state funds.”

Taraba 2015: Civil societies make case for Ag gov