Bauchi: Top APC Leader Snubs Party’s Candidate, Endorses PDP’s Candidate

The decision of a former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar to endorse the incumbent governor of the state, Bala Mohammed in the 2023 general elections has generated uproar within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There are indications that Abubakar supports Mohammed, who is a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the APC candidate in the state.

The development has seen some members of the APC call for the dismissal of Abubakar from the party.

Abubakar, who was the Governor of the state from 2015-2019, was defeated by Mohammed in the 2019 election.

The former Governor and his loyalists believe he was betrayed by top APC members of his party who supported his main rival.

Abubakar endorsed Mohammed for the 2023 election during a dinner organised by the State government in his honour after he was recently nominated a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The former governor had snubbed a dinner earlier organised in his honour by the APC governorship candidate, Sadique Abubakar.

Abubakar, while speaking during the dinner in his honour, said he is happy with the magnanimity of the incumbent governor.

He added that he was surprised that Mohammed attended a dinner organised in his honour in Abuja

Abubakar said, “This is how politics should be played. It should be played without rancour. Today, PDP is leading in Bauchi, yesterday it was APC. Someone who is in PDP today may join APC tomorrow.

“Since the aim is to develop the state, I’m in full support of the developmental strides he has achieved. I’m very happy if Bauchi is developed. I know so many things will be said about this night, but one thing remains very important my younger brother has set the ball rolling for other politicians. I ask Allah to guide him as he keeps managing the affairs of this state.”

Mohammed said he decided to, for the first time, organise a dinner for an individual because the former governor “has a stake in Bauchi State.”

The Bauchi State Governor said, “Mohammed means well to everybody. I contested against him and defeated him with only 15,000 votes and so he has an entitlement in this state… I’ll not be a dullard to ignore his supporters. I’ll not be stupid to say such a courageous politician should not be ignored.”

The governor said when he was sworn in people wanted him to go after his predecessor but he said he wouldn’t.

The spokesperson of the Sidique Abubakar campaign, Salisu Ahmad said the former governor betrayed the APC candidate.

He said, “We had already hired a big hall, printed the programme and even arranged the souvenir and all others. A day before they left Abuja for Bauchi, he spoke to the deputy governorship candidate and said that the dinner should be postponed. When Air Marshal (Sidique Abubakar) was informed, he said M.A. (Mr Abubakar) should give reasons why the dinner should be postponed.”

The former governor cited security reasons but Barau said the campaign team made its investigation and found out that he was planning to attend the Bauchi State government dinner.

Barau said the former governor has embarrassed the party’s candidate and other party members with his action.

The Chairman of the National Youth Council of the APC in the state, Alkaseem Nuhu said the former governor should be investigated immediately for his anti-party act.

He said, “As patriotic members of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) from Bauchi State, we humbly urge the National Executive Committee of our great party to as a matter of urgent responsibility set a committee to investigate the anti-Party activities, conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have an adverse effect on the Party and bring the Party into hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute by the conduct of His Excellency, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar SAN, the former Governor of Bauchi State as provided under article 21 (1) (i) and (ii) and the provision of Article 21 (2) (i) and (ii) of the APC Constitution.”