Youths paid to disgrace Dauda Nyampa fail in their mission

The latest attacks against Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa should surprise nobody familiar with the aftermath of the APC primary election for Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency.

In my view, the youths attacking Nyampa are being used by political interests that have failed to come to terms with the defeat suffered during the APC primary. Rather than accepting the outcome and allowing political differences to be settled through legitimate democratic engagement, they have resorted to a campaign aimed at discrediting the lawmaker.

Nyampa emerged as the APC candidate for Michika/Madagali after the party’s 2026 nomination exercise, a result publicly announced by the party’s election committee. Some dissatisfied aspirants subsequently challenged the process and alleged that the exercise lacked transparency.

But political disagreement should not become an endless campaign of calumny.

Those behind the attacks should understand that elections and party primaries produce winners and losers. Losing a political contest should not become justification for a sustained effort to pull down the person who emerged victorious.

No amount of character assassination can substitute for a political programme. Those who believe Nyampa does not deserve another mandate should present their record, ideas and alternatives to the people of Michika and Madagali and allow the electorate to make the final judgment.

Nyampa, meanwhile, should remain focused on what he knows best: representing his constituents and pursuing issues affecting the people of Michika and Madagali. He has represented the constituency in the House of Representatives since 2019 and is seeking another term in 2027.

His supporters also believe that another victory could strengthen his standing in the National Assembly. With his accumulated legislative experience, they argue that he could be considered for greater responsibilities, including a principal-officer position in the Green Chamber. Such appointments, however, will ultimately depend on the composition of the next House and the political decisions made after the 2027 elections.

For Nyampa’s opponents, the lesson should be straightforward: yesterday’s primary cannot be fought forever. If they want to challenge him, they should do so with ideas and a better programme for Michika and Madagali.

The people deserve a contest over development, representation and results  not an endless political vendetta arising from a primary election that has already been concluded.