The Bauchi State All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Ambassador Saddique Baba Abubakar, have been advised to graciously accept the verdict of the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed in the March 18, 2023, governorship election.
This advice comes from the Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Vanguard (BAM-V), a pro-Governor Bala Mohammed group, which issued a statement in Abuja on Sunday, September 24. The group, led by its Director-General, Comrade Mohammed Abubakar, urged both the APC and its candidate to unite with the Governor and work together for the development of Bauchi state.
BAM-V, a coalition of youth groups advocating for democracy and good governance, emphasized that the tribunal’s decision was not only a win for Governor Mohammed but also a reaffirmation of his electoral victory. It expressed that the verdict was a significant step towards justice for the people of Bauchi state, who had democratically chosen the Governor through the ballot on March 18, 2023.
Additionally, the group praised the judiciary as the ultimate recourse for ordinary citizens and acknowledged that the tribunal’s judgment validated the Governor’s diligent work and performance during his first term in office.
It stated: “Though we acknowledge the fact that the APC and its gubernatorial candidate have the constitutional rights to appeal the verdict of the tribunal, we, however, called on them to accept the verdict in good faith and the spirit of sportsmanship and join hands with the Governor Bala Mohammed administration to take Bauchi State to greater heights.
“Bauchi State has lagged in development for too long before Governor Bala Mohammed came on board on May 29, 2019. During his first tenure, the Governor was able to change the narratives with the level of unprecedented development he brought to the state, making Bauchi State a pride for all.
“The state as of today can stand shoulder to shoulder with its peers in terms of development in all sectors, including Education, Health, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Good Governance, among others.
“The fact that the people of the state acknowledged this fact made them massively for the Governor in the March 18 Governorship poll for him to continue with his giant strides and further improve the fortunes of the state. There is, therefore, the need for the opposition to not only join hands with the Governor to further develop Bauchi State but also contribute meaningful to the development of the state,” Jibo stated.
The BAM-V DG, who doubles as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi state, called on the opposition in the state to encourage their supporters to maintain the peace being enjoyed in the state.
He stated: “We further appeal that everyone should not make utterances capable of fomenting trouble across the state.”
Congratulating the governor, the group also urged him to double his efforts at improving the lots of the people of the state.
It added: “We strongly believe that you are aware of the fact that to whom much is given, much is expected of him. The affirmation of your victory at the poll by the tribunal is a further clarion call that you have to continue to work hard for the betterment of Bauchi State and its people as well of Nigeria in general.”
The group also called on the governor to be magnanimous in victory and extend hands of fellowship to all opposition members in the state, including the APC and its candidate for the betterment of Bauchi State and its overall development as well as its good people.
It further stated: “We urge His Excellency to extend hands of fellowship to all opposition members in Bauchi State and be magnanimous in victory. As much as we have a very strong and undiluted belief in him as a hardworking governor, we advise that His Excellency should know that the reward for hard work is more hard work. We never doubt his ability and capability to work more in his second term than his first term in office.”0
