Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed is considering picking one of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, Farouk Mustapha as running mate in the 2023 general elections, multiple sources familiar with the intrigues told WikkiTimes.
Farouk, a former lawmaker who aspired to clinch the APC governorship ticket in the just concluded primaries but lost to Air Marshall Sadique Baba Abubakar is considered a grassroots politician that is likely to bolster Mr Mohammed’s acceptance in Bauchi north.
Sources familiar with the issue told WikkiTimes that Farouk will announce his defection from the APC to the PDP in order to be Bala’s running mate.
Mr Mohammed will drop his current Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela.
WikkiTimes learnt that Bala’s resolve to pick Farouk Mustapha was also to woo Adamu Adamu’s sympathy during the polls.
Adamu Adamu, the current minister of education is considered one of Farouk’s major political benefactors. Farouk, sources say was Adamu’s preferred aspirant during the APC primaries.
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“The governor reached out to Adamu Adamu recently after he lost the PDP Presidential primaries. Because he knew back home in Bauchi, he’s confronted by powerful forces who may bring an end to his second-term ambition. Adamu Adamu requested that Bala Mohammed should consider Farouk Mustapha as a running mate if he really needs his support”, a source who pledges anonymity told WikkiTimes.
This medium also understands that Mr Mohammed who was initially touted to picking Auwal Jatau, a member representing Zaki Federal Constituency in the National Assembly as running mate is reconsidering that position.
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“Mr Jatau will be dropped because of other factors, such as acceptability in the region and the support of other heavyweights; because Farouk has acceptability within the masses, and the high and mighty also supports him”, another source told WikkiTimes.
