Senator David Jimkuta, representing Taraba South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has firmly denied allegations that he received N500 million meant for women’s empowerment programmes in his constituency. The denial comes after Dr Jessy Adi Ashimate, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for the same district, accused Jimkuta of withholding funds during a campaign launch over the weekend. Ashimate claimed that N250 million was allocated twice for women’s training and empowerment initiatives through the senator, yet no visible programme had been implemented. He questioned whether any training actually took place and raised concerns about accountability in public fund management.
In response, Garleya Gambo Suntai, Director-General of Jimkuta’s campaign organisation, dismissed the allegations as false, baseless, and misleading. In a statement released on Monday, Suntai asserted that neither the government nor any organisation had ever handed Jimkuta N500 million for women’s empowerment projects. He challenged Ashimate to provide concrete evidence, including details of the alleged allocation, disbursement records, and sources of information. “Everyone expected the PDP candidate to tell the people where the N500 million came from, when it was released, and his sources of information,” Suntai said. “He rather threw a vague allegation without substantiating it.”
Suntai also highlighted Jimkuta’s track record of supporting empowerment initiatives in Taraba South, pointing to various projects and interventions aimed at uplifting women and vulnerable groups. He questioned Ashimate’s own credibility by reminding the public that the PDP candidate previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Taraba State. Suntai implied that if Ashimate had access to such funds during his tenure, he should have demonstrated similar results before making accusations against Jimkuta.
The controversy has sparked debate ahead of the upcoming elections, with both candidates vying for public trust on issues of transparency and development. While Ashimate framed his accusation as a call for accountability, Jimkuta’s camp insists the claim is politically motivated and lacks factual basis. As election campaigns intensify, voters in Taraba South are being urged to scrutinize claims and demands for evidence before forming judgments.
This dispute underscores the growing importance of financial transparency in Nigerian politics, especially as candidates highlight their developmental records. The outcome of this exchange may influence voter perception and could set a precedent for how similar allegations are handled in future electoral contests.
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