By Sunday Elijah
The National President of the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), Comrade Danladi Bako, has urged the Tangale people in Gombe State, northeastern Nigeria, to remain united and make informed choices as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Bako said voters should reject vote-buying and elect credible leaders capable of representing their interests, warning that accepting money from politicians in exchange for political support could undermine their interests for years.
He made the call in an interview with AFRICA PRIME NEWS, saying the TCDA’s priority was to promote unity, political awareness and responsible civic participation among the Tangale people ahead of the elections.
“TCDA is advocating for the entire Tangale people to be focused and united to make sure we get it right in the 2027 election,” he said.
Bako urged Tangale voters to learn from previous electoral experiences and understand the importance of their votes in determining who represents them at different levels of government.
He particularly cautioned against accepting cash from politicians during campaigns, saying short-term financial inducements could leave voters with little to show for their choices after elections.
“It is known in Nigeria that people have collected N10,000; N20,000; N50,000; N100,000, mortgaging themselves for four years. They have ended up miserable,” he said.
Bako Cites Osun Election
Bako cited the recently concluded 2026 Osun State governorship election as an example of voters exercising their electoral choices despite attempts to influence them.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party the winner of the August 15 election, after he defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bako said the lesson for the Tangale people was the importance of retaining their independent judgment at the ballot box.
“I want the Tangale people to learn from what happened in Osun, some of the people collected the money given to them by politicians, but when the election came, they voted for the person they wanted; and the person won,” he said.
His comments come as political activities and consultations begin to build ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with political parties and community groups expected to intensify mobilisation in the months leading to the polls.
TCDA Urges Voters To Return Home
Bako also appealed to Tangale people who are registered to vote in their home communities to make arrangements to return home during the election period and participate in the voting process.
He said the TCDA would mobilise Tangale sons and daughters to return to their respective communities and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The call is particularly aimed at members of the community living outside their areas of voter registration, who may need to make arrangements ahead of the elections to participate at their designated polling locations.
Appeal For Unity, Restraint
Beyond voter participation, Bako called on Tangale people to avoid actions capable of creating tension, confrontation or division within the community during the election season.
He urged community members to disagree politically without allowing political differences to undermine their collective interests.
Bako said the TCDA would continue to monitor developments within Tangale communities and engage individuals and groups willing to participate in dialogue.
He said the objective should be to ensure that the 2027 elections provide an opportunity for the Tangale people to participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s democratic process and make choices based on competence, credibility and the interests of their communities.
