2027: Useni Highlights Constituency Projects as Re-Election Campaign Gathers Momentum
Member representing Takum, Donga and Ussa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mark Bako Useni, is putting his legislative record and constituency projects at the centre of his campaign for another term as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Useni, a former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, secured the All Progressives Congress ticket earlier this year to seek another term in the National Assembly.
His emerging campaign narrative is expected to focus significantly on projects and interventions facilitated during his current tenure, alongside his legislative activities in the House of Representatives.
Recent publicity surrounding the lawmaker has put the number of projects associated with his representation at 133.
However, ClearFact could not independently confirm the updated figure from publicly available documentation.
Earlier independent reporting provides a clearer benchmark.
In June 2025, both Nigerian Tribune and The Guardian reported that Useni had recorded more than 88 completed and ongoing constituency projects within his first two years in the National Assembly.
Those projects reportedly covered education, water and sanitation, electricity, security, healthcare and road infrastructure.
The difference between the independently reported figure of 88 projects in 2025 and the more recent claim of 133 means the latest total should be treated as a claim pending publication or independent verification of an updated project inventory.
Education Features Prominently
Education has been one of the most visible areas associated with Useni’s constituency interventions.
Nigerian Tribune reported in June 2025 that the projects included more than 35 new classroom blocks across communities in Takum, Donga, Ussa and Yangtu.
Schools identified in the report included Government Day Secondary School Kufai Amadu, GDSS Shinku in Chanchanji, GDSS Rufu and GDSS Kpambo.
The report also identified a smart school project in Takum and vocational schools in Bete, Mayo Dasa and Vakude.
Such projects are particularly significant in rural communities where inadequate classrooms and educational facilities can affect access to quality learning.
For voters, however, the important question ahead of 2027 will extend beyond the number of projects announced.
Their completion status, quality, accessibility and actual impact on communities will provide a stronger basis for evaluating their effectiveness.
Water, Electricity and Healthcare
The constituency projects previously documented by independent media were not restricted to education.
Water and sanitation, electrification, healthcare, security and roads were also identified among areas of intervention.
These sectors represent some of the most immediate development needs confronting communities across Southern Taraba.
Access to potable water remains particularly important in rural areas, where residents may depend on streams, wells and other potentially unsafe sources.
Similarly, rural electrification can affect businesses, education, healthcare and household economic activities.
Healthcare infrastructure also remains a major concern, particularly for communities located far from major hospitals.
The political significance of such interventions therefore goes beyond the physical construction of projects.
What matters ultimately is whether the facilities remain functional and improve residents’ quality of life.
Legislative Record Also in Focus
Useni’s performance cannot be assessed solely through constituency projects.
As a member of the House of Representatives, his primary constitutional responsibilities include legislation, representation and oversight.
The Guardian reported in June 2025 that the lawmaker said he had sponsored or co-sponsored at least 10 bills during his first two years.
Among legislation associated with him were proposals relating to electoral reform, tertiary education, agriculture, secondary education and other national issues.
One of the measures highlighted was the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari Establishment Bill.
Other initiatives included legislation relating to a proposed Federal College of Fisheries and Aquatic Science in Kashimbilla, Takum Local Government Area.
Useni currently chairs the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, giving him responsibilities connected with an important area of national development.
His legislative output will consequently form another benchmark through which constituents can assess his representation.
Useni Secures APC Ticket
Useni’s bid for another term gained significant momentum in May when he secured the APC ticket for the constituency.
The Nation reported that he defeated Audu Israel in the party primary.
According to the published results, Useni received 20,624 votes while Israel received 552.
Following his victory, the lawmaker called for unity among APC members and said another term would provide an opportunity to consolidate projects initiated during his current tenure.
He also pledged to support the APC’s broader electoral campaign ahead of 2027.
However, the primary election subsequently became the subject of a legal challenge, adding another dimension to the constituency’s political contest.
Regardless of internal party developments, the general election will ultimately require Useni to persuade voters beyond the APC membership that his first-term record merits another mandate.
Project Numbers Require Transparency
The increasing prominence of constituency projects in political campaigns also raises an important accountability issue.
Politicians frequently cite the number of projects they have attracted or facilitated as evidence of performance.
Numbers alone, however, can provide an incomplete picture.
A comprehensive assessment should identify each project, its location, funding source, implementing government agency, contract value where publicly available, completion status and whether the facility is functioning.
This becomes especially important when the total number of projects changes over time.
The independently reported figure of more than 88 projects dates from June 2025. It is entirely possible that additional projects have been initiated or completed since then.
But establishing a new total of 133 requires an updated and verifiable inventory.
Publishing such a list would allow residents, journalists and civil society organisations to physically verify the projects across Takum, Donga, Ussa and Yangtu.
That level of transparency would strengthen public confidence in performance claims made during the election season.
Constituency Projects Are Public Projects
Another important distinction for voters is that constituency projects facilitated by lawmakers are financed through public resources rather than personally funded gifts from elected representatives.
Lawmakers can identify community needs, advocate for projects and facilitate their inclusion in government budgets.
Implementation and funding generally involve federal ministries, departments and agencies under Nigeria’s budgetary framework.
The distinction matters because public projects should be evaluated according to value for money, quality and impact, regardless of the politician associated with facilitating them.
Residents therefore have the right to demand accountability for such projects.
2027 Contest Taking Shape
Useni’s re-election campaign is emerging at a time of significant political activity across Taraba State.
Candidates and support groups are increasingly presenting their records and development agendas as voters begin looking toward the 2027 elections.
For Takum, Donga, Ussa and Yangtu, representation will likely be assessed against several pressing challenges.
Security remains critical in parts of Southern Taraba, alongside demands for better roads, educational infrastructure, healthcare, employment opportunities, agricultural development and improved electricity.
Candidates seeking the federal constituency seat will therefore be expected to explain not only what they have previously accomplished but what they intend to do differently during the next legislative term.
Voters Have Opportunity to Verify Performance
As Useni puts his record before constituents, the months ahead provide an opportunity for residents to scrutinise the projects attributed to his representation.
Communities can determine whether facilities reported as completed actually exist, whether they are operational and whether they address genuine local needs.
The same scrutiny should apply to every candidate seeking public office.
Performance-based campaigns can strengthen democracy when achievements are supported by verifiable evidence rather than political slogans.
Useni enters the 2027 contest with a documented record of constituency interventions and legislative activity.
Independent reports established that at least 88 completed and ongoing projects had been associated with his representation by June 2025.
The more recent figure of 133 projects could represent additional interventions undertaken since that assessment, but an updated project-by-project record would be necessary to independently establish that total.
As campaigning intensifies, providing that documentation would give constituents a clearer basis for deciding how much progress has been made and whether the lawmaker deserves another mandate.
