By T.A Daniel

As the 2023 General Election is fast approaching, potlitical activities is on top gear with poiliticians scampering to convince delegates to allow them fly the party’s flag.

It is safe to say that this is the season for delegates to decide our fate since Nigerians constitution didn’t give room for independent candidature.

Their choices will either put us on the path of development or retrogressiveness.

Having said that, let me beam my searchlights on the northern zone of the state. One might wonder why I’m pondering on the northern zone more than my zone, which is the central zone, but let me tell you why.

In as much as my zone hasn’t produced a Governor, the last time we got close was when Governor Bala James Ngillari picked Sa’ad MC Tahir as his Deputy, the Northern Zone has produced 6 Governors.

The zone has produced 6 Governors who have helped shaped the state. Have you ever wondered how the zone with the least Local Government Areas produced 6 Governors at the detriment of the other zones.

One might be wondering how i got the number of Governors coming out of the zone, so let’s count them together. Ambassador Wilberforce Juta, Alhaji Saleh Michika, Dr. Boni Haruna, Senator Muhammed Jibrilla Bindow, Barrister Bala James Ngillari and the current occupier of the seat, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

6 Governors coming from the northern the of the state alone with 5 LGA’s, shows how politically inclined the zone is.

Central zone with its 7 LGA’s had none, Admiral Murtala Hammanyero Nyako is the only one from the southern part of the state, even with 9 LGA’s.

Back to why i decided to keep aside my busy schedules just to do what i like.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is looking for a way to retain its grip as the ruling party.

Just like i always tell who cares to listen that its easier to win an election as an opposition than winning to stay in power (without election fraud actually).

So if the ruling People’s Democratic Party wants to retain its seat in 2023, it needs to present popular candidates at the polls, actuall; not popular but most popular candidates they can present.

Remember that our focus now is the Northern zone of the state, so stay with me.

One can’t specifically say that the ruling PDP has a grip on the zone, atleast not yet, it’s kind of a 50/50 situation in one way and a 40/60 situation against the ruling party in another way.

I don’t want to believe that local government Chairmen plays a vital role at the state level like that (you might choose to have a different belief though) even though they are the ones with the people at the grassroots.

Why they no longer have much electoral value as experienced before is a story for another day.

Members of the House of Assembly, Members of the House of Representative and Senators do influences the outcome of an election in some kind of way.

Having said that, the APC has one of the most vocal critiq of the present administration in it’s fold, he is no other than Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo. This is someone who would’ve been a force to reckon with if he had channeled his baseless criticisms to developmetal projects for his people.

The APC also has a House of Reps member who has his people at heart, you could tell from the bill he sponsored and the projects he was able to put out.

Out of the 5 LGA’s, can i say they have 3 Members at the House of Assembly with the recent controversy surrounding Depolis’s controversial cross carpeting and declaration of his seat vacant? They Hold Maiha and Mubi North, possibly Michika.

As for Maiha, if the ruling party got nothing from them, no one dares complain because they didn’t vote for the ruling party in the 2019 election and with that, there’s no government’s presence there, so sincerely i believe that PDP can never win Maiha.

Like I’ve mentioned in my previous post, should there be synergy between APC politicians in that zone, it will be a huge mountain to climb for the PDP.

The zone is naturally an APC zone, not only that; they have big shots with the necessary funds to get things done.

Less you forgot, they’ve got Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo, 2 former Governors in the persons of Senator Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow and Barrister Bala James Ngillari, former Senator Binta Masi Garba, HoS member, Jaafar and NDLEA boss Buba Marwa.

On it’s part, the ruling party has Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, former Governor Boni Haruna, HoS member Zakaria Dauda Nyampa and can only boast of 2 members of the House of Assembly,

For the Senatorial seat, APC has major contenders like Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo, Senator Binta Masi Garba and Abdulrahman Buba Kwacham.

PDP has major contenders like Abubakar Mahmood Wambai, Madakin Mubi, His Excellency Boni Haruna, Makama Mubi, Arch. Aji Paul Wampana, the youngest of them all.

Looking at the numerical and political strength of the aspirants under the main opposition APC, the PDP needs to pick a popular candidate.

The candidate who i believe can win it for PDP remains former Governor Boni Haruna, Makama Mubi as his track record is unprecedented.

It will be very easy to sell Boni to the voting populace than the other aspirants, he is a man of valor and has proven that in all ramifications.

His popularity alone can be a great asset to the ruling People’s Democratic Party not to talk more of his track record.

PDP cannot afford to field in a candidate that can stand any of the opposition’s candidate in the general election, if they intend to win the Senatorial Zone and the state at large, the thing to do is very simple; they should go to the polling booth with credible and popular candidate.

T. A Daniel
Public Commentator