Over 25,000 thousand members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bauchi.
The decampees were received on Wednesday by the party’s presidential flagbearer Atiku Abubakar at the Abubakar Tafawabalew Stadium in Bauchi.
ArewaReporters learned that heavyweight chieftains of the APC were among the decampees including a former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Architect Abdul Sule Katagum, former 2023 Gubernatorial Candidate Farouk Mustapha, a former APC Zonal Women Leader, Hajiya Amina Manga among others.
Alhaji Abubakar, accompanied by his Vice Presidential candidate, Sen. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the Governor of Delta state and the PCO’s Director General, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state and a cross-section of the party’s chieftains, were treated to a rousing welcome by thousands of enthusiastic supporters of the party.
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Shortly afterwards, a mini rally, preceded by a felicitation visit to their host, Sen. Muhammad, who just turned 64, was held in the state capital.
The Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), C.I. D. Maduabum, expressed the Governor’s good wishes to Gov. Bala.
According to the statement, the forum, also chaired by Gov. Tambuwal, felicitated “Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, as he turns 64 years old today.”
“We thank the Almighty God for His immeasurable kindness and abundant provisions in the life of Kauran Bauchi, and for the wisdom and protection in his public life where he has rendered dedicated service to Bauchi State and the country in general.
“At 64, he has impacted tremendously on humanity, far and wide. Thus, we join his family and friends to celebrate him on this special day.
“So far, as Governor of Bauchi State, he has brought his vast experience in strategic developmental planning to set a remarkable record in the three years and above of his administration in various areas including water provision, housing, rural electrification, education, roads infrastructure and urban renewal, health, agriculture, youth and women empowerment and security of lives and property, amongst others,” the statement reads in part.
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The Governors also congratulated him on his re-emergence as the PDP gubernatorial candidate for Bauchi State while highly appreciating the competence he exhibited at the PDP 2021 National Conventions as the Chairman of the Venue Sub-Committee and Member of the Convention Organising Committee.
The forum also applauded the role he played in modifying the Committee that examined PDP’s outing in 2019 and reset the trajectory for recovery, noting that he has “inspired many in his quest for peaceful cohabitation towards nation building by creating relationships widely, while equally boosting the future of our Party, PDP and the Forum.”
His counterparts prayed to God to grant him more foresight and grace to lead his people,”… wishing “him more fruitful years ahead,” while pledging “brotherly cooperation and unalloyed support to him at all times.”
