PDP to Conduct Fresh Gov Primary in Bauchi as Candidate Withdraws From Race

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced preparations for a fresh gover­norship primary election to accommodate for the Bauchi State Chapter.

Governor Bala Mohammed who lost out during the party’s presidential primaries in Abu­ja.

 Yayanuwa Zainabari, the state Publicity Secre­tary of the PDP confirmed this on Tuesday.

He said that Ibra­him Kashim, Former Secretary to Bauchi State Government (SSG), had clinched the ticket of the party in the prima­ry conducted last week. He went into the race to hold a brief for the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who at the time was contesting for the presidential primary election

The returning officer for the election, Hassan Ahmed Gre­ma, had declared Kashim, the sole aspirant, as winner, saying he polled a total of 655 votes out of the 656 votes, while one was invalid.

But PDP spokesman in Bau­chi said a fresh exercise would be conducted because Kashim said he no longer had interest in the election.

He said, “Former Secretary to the Government of Bauchi State, Barrister Ibrahim Mu­hammad Kashim, has with­drawn his candidature and sub­mitted his candidature since he stepped down on his own the party is left with no option but to get his replacement through fresh primary election.”

Kashim was asked if what the party is doing is not a ploy to deceive the electorates, he said that, “No, not a deceit, he voluntarily bought the forms, contested and won, now he has withdrawn voluntarily. There is no deceit there” .

The Publicity Secretary, however, said, “One thing is that, the people of Bauchi State have beckoned on Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir to continue as the Governor for a second term and by the grace of God, he will be our candidate for 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.

You know that he contested but lost the party presidential primaries, he can now come back, contest for the gubernatorial ticket so that he will participate as the candidate of the PDP in 2023.”

The PDP Spokesperson assured that, “In sha Allah, between today and Saturday, we will let the people know the next line of action. It could be another primaries in the state or direct substitution, whichever is easier and recognised by the law is what we want to do”.

He, however, assured people of Bauchi State that the PDP is not confused and not deceiving them but doing things as recognized and accepted by law.

 

Yayanuwa said the party is following the process as en­shrined in the law of the party and the electoral law.

But with the withdrawal of the candidate from the race, this altered the calculations made by the governor and the party.

“We didn’t see it coming, it took us by surprise,” a source told our correspondent in confidence.

 

Confirming the development to journalists on Tuesday evening, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Yayanuwa Zainabari said, “Yes, I can confirm to you that our gubernatorial candidate, Barr Kashim Ibrahim, has withdrawn from the race. The only reason he gave the party was that he withdrew due to personal reasons.

“Since he has withdrawn voluntarily, the party has no option but to accept his decision and thank him for being a loyal party member.

“We have started the process of getting a replacement for him in line with the provisions of the relevant electoral laws and guidelines. We will look into all of the laws and do the needful”.