By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Bauchi’s immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Kassim Ibrahim Mohammed on Wednesday, emerged the sole gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 polls.
Kassim got all the 656 votes cast in the party gubernatorial primary election except one, that was counted invalid, thereby carting away 655 votes to carry the party governorship flag to the forthcoming general elections, 2023.
But despite that, Governor Bala Mohammed doesn’t stand for PDP gubernatorial primaries, his name however appeared on the ballot papers along with Kassim Ibrahim Mohammed who stood for the election.
Kassim dropped his position in the PDP-led state government to aspire for the governorship of the state in the 2023 polls in place of incumbent governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who is now a PDP presidential aspirant in the polls.
The Bauchi PDP governorship candidate, Kassim has in an acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to party’s delegates for finding him worthy to carry the party’s gubernatorial flag to the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Barrister Kashim vowed that he was ready for the task ahead, promised to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed for the rapid socio-economic transformation of the state.
“The journey started today and we must work together in unity for the task ahead for our teeming electorates to vote for us for victory in the polls. In the history of Bauchi State, our current Governor, Bala Mohammed has done well in taking the state to higher pedestals and we must work tirelessly to build on his successes. We are ready to take over the mantle of leadership of Bauchi State and to deliver effectively
Addressing journalists on the appearance of Governor Bala’s name in the primary election ballot papers, the Bauchi State PDP Chairman, Hamza Koshe Akuyam attributed it to an error from the national secretariat of the party in Abuja
“Yes, as you have seen the name of His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed in our governorship primary ballot papers, it was an error from our National Secretariat. His Excellency, Governor Bala is now not contesting the governorship elections in Bauchi, he is among those that are contesting for the office of the President in the forthcoming presidential primaries of our great party”.
