Darius Ishaku Explained

Darius Ishaku
Office:Governor of Taraba State
Term Start:29 May 2015
Term End:29 May 2023
Deputy:Haruna Manu
Predecessor:Danbaba Suntai
Successor:Agbu Kefas
Birth Name:Darius Dickson Ishaku
Birth Date:30 July 1954
Birth Place:Lupwe, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Taraba State, Nigeria)
Nationality:Nigerian
Party:Peoples Democratic Party
Spouse:Anna Darius Ishaku
Alma Mater:

Darius Dickson Ishaku (born 30 July 1954) is a Nigerian architect, urban planner, university lecturer and politician. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and served as the governor of Taraba State from May 2015 to May 2023.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Early life

Ishaku was born on 30 July 1954 to Mr Ishaku Istifanus and Mrs Naomi at Lupwe in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. He is the fifth of ten children from his family, all of whom are members of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria.

The young Darius was enrolled into St Bartholomew's Primary school, Wusasa, Zaria, in 1961, and graduated in 1967.

He then proceeded to famous St. Paul's College Kufena, Zaria, for his secondary education, in 1972 and passed out in flying colours, obtaining West African Examination Certificate (WASC). He secured admission into the school of basic studies in prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in the same year (1972), for his advance Level education which was then a requirement for gaining admission into the university, and he passed out in 1974. He proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where he studied and obtained a Bachelor's and a master's degree in Architecture, he went further to obtain an additional master's degree in Urban and regional planning.[5]

Darius is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA) and also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FNITP).

Political career

Ishaku was previously the supervising minister for power, supervising minister for environment and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs before he resigned to contest in the 2015 Taraba State gubernatorial election. He won the initial gubernatorial election against Aisha Jumai Alhassan of APC and David Sabo Kente of SDP, and was elected Governor of Taraba State after winning the subsequent re-run election. Darius won the 2015 election but was in a court battle with his opponent, senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan who took him to court and after a series of cases, Darius was declared the winner of the governorship election by the Supreme Court in early 2016.[6] [7] [8]

Darius Ishaku was again successful, for his second run, in the gubernatorial election of March 2019, defeating his closest rival Alhaji Abubakar Sani Danladi of the All Progressives Congress by over 150,000 votes.[9] [10] [11]

In the 2023 Senate election, a political newcomer David Jimkuta, polled 85,415 votes to defeat the incumbent governor Ishaku who scored 45,708 votes in the race for Taraba South Senatorial District.[12]

Award

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nigeria's democracy embarrassing, insulting —Gov Ishaku. Punch Newspapers. en-US. 2020-03-05.
  2. Web site: Gov Ishaku's absence from Taraba. 2020-02-25. Daily Trust. en-GB. 2020-03-05.
  3. Web site: Taraba Assembly passes vote of confidence on Governor Ishaku. 2020-02-25. TODAY. en-US. 2020-03-05.
  4. Web site: Taraba gov dissociates self from insecurity report - The Nation Newspaper . 2022-03-11 . thenationonlineng.net.
  5. Web site: Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku Full Biography. 17 August 2016. takemetonaija.com.
  6. News: John. Mkom. Rerun election: PDP governorship candidate Darius wins in Taraba. 8 June 2016. Vanguard. 25 April 2015.
  7. Web site: Nwabufo . Fredrick . 2016-02-11 . 'Mama Taraba' loses at supreme court . 2024-07-11 . TheCable . en-US.
  8. Web site: Profile of Darius Dickson Ishaku. 8 June 2016. Candidates.nigeriaelections.org. 15 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815074459/http://candidates.nigeriaelections.org/candidate/profile/candidate/661/me/%20darius%20dickson%20ishaku-/. dead.
  9. Web site: Darius Ishaku wins second term in Taraba. Polycarp. Nwafor. 12 March 2019. Vanguard. 14 March 2019.
  10. Web site: Tribunal Affirms Darius Dickson Ishaku as winner of Guber poll. Daily Trust. 20 September 2019. 21 October 2019.
  11. Web site: Appeal Court affirms Darius Ishaku as Taraba Governor. Channels TV. 18 November 2019. 20 November 2019.
  12. Web site: 2023-02-28 . Gov Ishaku Loses Taraba South Senatorial Election to APC Jimkuta . 2023-04-24 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2022-10-09 . FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper . 2022-10-31 . en-US.