2023 Election
2023 Election: Meet PDP, APC, NNPP Candidate Battling For Bauchi Governorship Seat
A total of 2,749,268 eligible registered voters as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), would go out on Saturday, March 11, to vote for their preferred candidates in the governorship election in Bauchi State.
Major candidates in the state governorship race are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Naija News reports.
Meet the 2023 Bauchi State Gubernatorial Candidates Below:
Bala Mohammed
Governor Bala Mohammed
The incumbent Governor of Bauchi State is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News understands that Mohammed had initially declined to run for re-election, instead expressed interest in running for president. The 64-year-old politician, however, was among others who lost the PDP presidential ticket at the primary in May 2022 to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Governor Mohammed immediately opted for renomination in a rerun primary. The PDP had initially nominated the former Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, but the politician relinquished the ticket to Governor Mohammed.
Governor Mohammed has served in various capacities as far as the Nigerian politics and civil society is concerned. In 2007, Mohammed contested and won the election to serve the people of the South Senatorial zone in Bauchi State as a senator on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.
He subsequently served as the Senator from 2007 to 2010. While at the senate chamber, Mohammed became one of the foremost outspoken legislators in Nigeria. He also served as the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Secretary, Northern Senator’s Forum.
Mohammed became Governor of Bauchi in 2019 and was sworn in on May 29 on the platform of the PDP, having defeated the then incumbent Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.
Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar
Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar
Naija News understands that Abubakar defeated eight other aspirants, including his closest, Senator Dauda Jika, by polling 370 votes.
Senator Jika came second at the poll with 278 votes, while Nura Manu Soro polled 269 votes to emerge third.
Air Marshal Abubakar served previously as Chief of Standards and Evaluation at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters, as Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding NAF Training Command. He served as Chief of Administration at NAF Headquarters before he was appointed Chief of Air Staff.
He won several awards and honours including the best Cadet in Flying at Primary Flying Training Wing in 1981. Best All Round Cadet at Primary Flying Training Wing in 1981. Tactical Air Command Best Officer of the Year in 1997. Chief of the Air Staff’s Letter of Commendation for good leadership and prudent management of resources by Air Marshal OO Petinrin in 2009. Chief of the Air Staff’s Letter of Commendation for good leadership and prudent management of resources by Air Marshal MD Umar in 2011. Chief of the Air Staff’s Special Award from Air Marshal AS Badeh in 2013.
Distinguished Flying Star (DFS), among others.
Halliru Dauda Jika – NNPP
Halliru Dauda Jika
Having lost to Abubakar at the APC primary election, Senator Jika pitched his tent with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and won the party’s ticket two months after his defection from the nation’s ruling party.
The 47-year-old politician and businessman was once a member and shortly the speaker of the Bauchi state house of assembly, a member house of representatives and currently a senate member representing Bauchi Central.
Naija News understands that Jika was elected as a representative of the Darazo and Ganjuwa Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives and served two terms as a representative, the first term between 2007 and 2011 and the second term between 2011 and 2015.
In the 2019 general election, he was elected senator for Bauchi Central on the platform of the APC.
