Bauchi gov wins Dogara’s constituency despite opposition

Bauchi Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Bala Mohammed has won in all three local government areas (LGAs) represented by former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara in his re‑election bid. Dogara, who is concluding his fourth term for the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency, had vowed to prevent Mohammed’s re‑election and threw his support behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, a former Chief of Air Staff. To achieve this, Dogara allied with influential state figures, including former governors Isa Yuguda and Adamu Mu’azu, former Minister of Special Duties Bello Kirfi, and Senators Nazif Gamawa and Isa Hamma Misau. Despite these efforts, Mohammed still secured victories in the three LGAs that Dogara represents in the National Assembly.

The governorship results announced by the Local Collation Officers for the three LGAs showed Mohammed’s landslide over Abubakar. In Bogoro, Dogara’s hometown, Mohammed obtained 16,589 votes against Abubakar’s 10,436, as announced by Collation Officer Maiyaki Gambo at the Prof. Yakubu Mahmood Conference Hall of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters in Bauchi. In Dass, Mohammed won by more than 2,800 votes, receiving 14,471 votes to the APC candidate’s 11,596, according to Collation Officer Abdulrahman Abdulrasheed. In Tafawa Balewa, Mohammed led by 35,100 votes, with the APC rival garnering 22,928 votes.

Overall, results from 19 of the state’s 20 LGAs have been announced. Mohammed has won in 14 LGAs, while the APC candidate triumphed in five. The LGAs secured by the governor include Alkaleri (his birthplace), Kirfi, Bogoro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Ganjuwa, Itas Gadau, Zaki, Jama’are, Ningi, Dambam, Shira, Toro, and Warji. He leads Sadique Abubakar by 112,587 votes, having amassed 445,155 votes to Abubakar’s 362,376. The APC’s victories came in Giade (Abubakar’s hometown), Gamawa, Darazo, Katagum, and Misau.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate, Senator Haliru Jika, finished a distant third with 51,213 votes. Jika, who represents Bauchi Central, failed to win any LGA, losing even in Ganjuwa, his home area.