The Senator representing Taraba South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, David Jimkuta, has dismissed allegations that he received and withheld N500 million meant for women empowerment programmes in the district.
Jimkuta, through the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Garleya Gambo Suntai, described the allegation as false, baseless and misleading, challenging his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Dr Jessy Adi Ashimate, to produce evidence to substantiate the claim.
Ashimate, who is the PDP senatorial candidate for Taraba South, had made the allegation at the commencement of his campaign at the weekend, claiming that N250 million was budgeted twice for the training and empowerment of women in the senatorial district through the senator.
Addressing supporters during the campaign, Ashimate had asked whether the women had received the training for which the alleged funds were appropriated.
He also claimed that official records indicated that the project was ongoing despite what he described as the absence of the corresponding training programme.
According to him, raising questions over the alleged funds was necessary to promote accountability and ensure that public resources meant for the people were properly utilised.
But in a statement issued on Monday, Suntai said neither the government nor any organisation had at any time handed Jimkuta N500 million for women empowerment in Taraba South.
He challenged the PDP candidate to provide details of the alleged allocation, including its source, the date the money was released and the person or institution to which it was allegedly paid.
“Everyone expected the PDP candidate for the southern senatorial district to come out and tell the people where the N500 million came from, when the money was released and his sources of information. He rather threw a vague allegation without substantiating it,” Suntai said.
The campaign DG maintained that the allegation was particularly misleading because, according to him, Jimkuta had undertaken several empowerment initiatives since assuming office more than three years ago.
Suntai cited a recent empowerment programme involving the distribution of fertiliser and tractors, which he valued at more than N3 billion.
He said another empowerment initiative was in the works, disclosing that Jimkuta was currently in China to procure machines for drilling boreholes in communities across the senatorial district.
According to him, the planned intervention was part of the senator’s efforts to improve access to potable water in southern Taraba before the next senatorial election.
Suntai urged politicians seeking elective positions to make issues affecting the people the focus of their campaigns rather than engaging in what he described as name-calling and unsubstantiated allegations.
He also questioned Ashimate’s record in public service, noting that the PDP candidate had previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Taraba State.
Suntai further raised questions about Ashimate’s professional record as a medical doctor, although the claims were not independently substantiated in the statement.
The exchange has injected a fresh controversy into the emerging contest for the Taraba South senatorial seat, with both camps seeking to shape public perception ahead of the forthcoming election.
The dispute also highlights the growing emphasis on accountability, constituency projects and empowerment programmes as political activities intensify in the senatorial district.
While Ashimate has demanded explanations over the alleged N500 million, Jimkuta’s campaign has insisted that no such funds were received by the senator and has challenged his opponent to produce documentary evidence to support the allegation.