2019: Bala Mohammed, Bauchi PDP guber candidate picks Baba Tela as running mate

PDP

ALL is now set for the 2019 gubernatorial election for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as its governorship candidate ‎in Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed has picked another former Senator, Baba Tela as his running mate.

The development was made public by state Publicity Secretary of the party, Yayanuwa Zainabari, while speaking to newsmen on the preparation of the party towards the 2019 general elections in Bauchi, saying that Baba Tela was unanimously and jointly chosen by the party’s leadership, the governorship candidate ‎and other stakeholders particularly from the Northern zone of the state.

According to the PDP spokesman, Baba Tela was rewarded by the choice for his loyalty and sacrifice for the development of the party in the ‎state since the coming of the present democratic dispensation having remained loyal and committed to the PDP.

Yayanuwa Zainabari also said that the Baba Tela who once represented the Bauchi North Senatorial zone at the state under the PDP had earlier shown his interest to once again contest for the senatorial district ticket in the 2019 general elections but conceded it to the present Senator representing the zone, Nazif Suleiman Gamawa based on the arrangement of the National Secretariat of the party.

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He explained further that Baba Tela was persuaded by the party to step ‎down for the incumbent, Senator Sulaiman Nazif, who joined the party after he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to ensure that there was political stability in the party in the state.

“He had earlier wanted to contest ‎for Bauchi North Senate seat but he stepped down when the issue of giving an automatic ticket to the two senators who joined the party came up. That is why he was considered and picked as running mate to our candidate,” he said.

Political watchers believe that the selection of Senator Baba Tela as the running mate was a strategic move by the PDP to neutralise the ruling APC in Bauchi North particularly Katagum Emirate in the 2019 elections considering the acceptability of the party in the area.

Both the incumbent, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar who is seeking re-election for a second term under the ruling APC and the PDP guber candidate‎, Senator Bala Mohammed is from Bauchi South senatorial zone while Governor Abubakar’s present deputy, Architect Audu Sule Katagum and Senator Baba Tela, are both also from Katagum Emirate.

Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, however, is yet to disclose whether he will be running with Audu Sule Katagum for the gubernatorial election.

S-Davies Wande