As the 2027 elections approach, political maneuvering in Bauchi State has begun, with politicians forming new alliances and preparing for a tough battle for the governorship seat. The state’s political landscape has always been unpredictable, and the race for the top position is already taking shape.
In the All Progressives Congress (APC), notable figures like Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Health Minister Ali Pate, former Chief of Air Staff Abubakar El-Sadique, and Bauchi South Senator Shehu Buba are seen as strong contenders for the governorship ticket. Meanwhile, in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a top executive from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bala Wunti, is rumored to be considering the race.
Although Wunti has not officially declared his ambition, sources suggest he may be Governor Bala Mohammed’s preferred candidate. A political insider revealed that Wunti had secretly obtained a PDP membership card, even though he is still serving as the Group General Manager of NAPIMS at NNPCL.
“Political and traditional leaders in the state have been mobilized to begin a discreet campaign for Wunti to emerge as the PDP gubernatorial candidate and subsequently win the 2027 election,” said a member of Wunti’s campaign team.
The slogan “Daga Bala, Sai Bala” (From Bala, to Bala) has gained popularity in Bauchi, with Wunti’s supporters using it to indicate a direct transition of power from Governor Mohammed to Wunti. “You can ask around, my brother, it’s the most spoken political phrase in Bauchi now,” a source close to the campaign said.
However, political analysts believe Wunti’s biggest challenge is his limited political experience. Although he has financial backing, they argue that he lacks the grassroots support and political structure needed to win an election.
A local political observer said, “Wunti may have a large war chest, but he does not have strong political strength. He will have to rely on the power of incumbency to his advantage.”
Adding to the competition, Health Minister Ali Pate has reportedly shown interest in the governorship race, a development that has unsettled Wunti’s supporters.
A source said, “I can tell you that since Dr. Ali Pate’s declaration, the governor’s camp and Wunti’s camp are already in panic mode. Dr. Pate has a solid reputation both internationally and locally. He also has an intimidating CV and experience from contesting elections before.”
Pate recently hinted at his political ambitions while discussing the importance of strengthening the APC in Bauchi State.
Pate said, “I think we are very closely connected with the grassroots in the state. But it will not come to be if the party is not united. My singular focus is to unify APC in Bauchi, support the president, and align our successes at both national and subnational levels.”
Despite this, some analysts argue that Pate lacks strong political influence in the state. A political pundit, Musa Garba said, “His only notable political move so far is appointing APC Deputy Chairman Saleh Danburam. I don’t really believe he can give Wunti a headache anyway.”
Garba also pointed to Pate’s poor performance in the 2023 APC governorship primary, where he failed to secure a single vote. He noted, “In that election, Sadique Abubakar got 370 votes, Haliru Jika had 278, and Nura Manu Soro got 269. Pate ended with a humiliating zero votes.”
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Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar is said to be working with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to block Governor Bala Mohammed from handpicking his successor. This rivalry became more evident after Governor Mohammed made critical remarks about President Bola Tinubu’s administration, leading to speculation that he may be considering a presidential bid in 2027.
Despite his ministerial position, Tuggar is also seen as lacking strong political influence in Bauchi. A local politician, Muazu Lamara said, “Tuggar does not have the political strength to secure the APC ticket. We saw what happened last time—Sadique won the APC primary even when Tuggar was an ambassador. He simply couldn’t rally enough support behind him.”
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the political scene in Bauchi remains interesting. With various contenders from both APC and PDP positioning themselves for the governorship race, the battle ahead promises to be intense. Will Bala Wunti overcome his challenges and secure the PDP ticket? Or will stronger political players like Ali Pate and Yusuf Tuggar reshape the race? Time will tell.