32 political parties in Bauchi State line up behind PDP in attempt to unseat Governor Abubakar

NEXT Saturday's gubernatorial elections in Bauchi State look set to be a close-run and tense affair after 32 political parties and 20 governorship candidates agreed to form a coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its aspirant Senator Bala Mohammed.

On Saturday March 9, the electorate in Bauchi State will go to the polls to elect a new governor and members of the state house of assembly. However, in a renewed attempt to unseat incumbent Governor Muhammed Abubakar  of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders across the state have decided to pool their resources together.

According to the leader of the coalition, Bello Kirfi, the parties met at River Edge Hotel in Bauchi and decided to endorse Senator Mohammed. Mr Kirfi named the parties in the coalition to include the United Progressive Party, the Green Party of Nigeria, Change advocacy Party, All Peoples Movement, All Blending Party, People’s Democratic Party, Action Joint Alliance, Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance, the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria and the Accord Party.

Others are the Independent Democrats, All Grand Alliance Party, New Generation Party, Nigeria People’s Congress, Legacy Party of Nigeria, Modern Democratic Party, New Progressive Movement, Providence Peoples Congress, Peoples Trust, Advance Allied Party and the Alliance National Party. According to Mr Kirfi, other parties included in the coalition are the Alternative Party of Nigeria, Alliance of Social Democrats, Change Nigeria Party, Congress of Patriots, Liberation Movement, New Progressive Movement, Peoples Coalition Party, Socialist Party of Nigeria, United Patriots, Young Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and the People’s Democratic Party.

Mr Kirfi said the effort was part of the continuation of their struggle to defeat Governor Abubakar by supporting a candidate who has the courage and the wherewithal to unseat the incumbent. He urged the people of the state and the stakeholders to support Senator Bala Mohammed.

According to Mr Kirfi, the people of Bauchi State have a lot of confidence and respect for President Muhammad Buhari, which was evident in the votes he got in the state and not because we are happy with happenings. he believes that the governorship election is a different matter, however.

Also, the parties said that they had perfected plans to foil an alleged plan to rig the polls, saying they would engage their supporters to protect their votes during the election. However, a spokesman for Governor Abubakar, said he was not moved or threatened by the coalition.

He added: “There is no opposition in Bauchi State. Ask anybody, about the party for the 2019 gubernatorial election and the answer you’ll get is APC. The forthcoming governorship election is a referendum on the integrity of the contestants and that is our major selling point in Governor Abubakar’s camp.”