5th May, 2022
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has said he would support whoever emerges as the presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He stated this on Wednesday after a courtesy visit to the former governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
Although a presidential aspirant himself, Bala said that his motive for accepting whoever wins the primaries is to “ensure that PDP reclaims presidency from the inefficient APC”.
According to him, Makarfi and other strong PDP members would do the right thing to ensure that the party come out intact after the convention.
Bala said; “We have a tradition as a party on how leaders, as well as political offices, are shared. Don’t forget, we led this country for sixteen years.
“If you look at the previous conventions, we have always come out intact. This is because it is not about individual aspirations.
“So, what we want to see as presidential aspirants and delegates is to have credible, acceptable, and transparent primaries. And we are ready to work with whoever emerges other than being selfish.
“So, more than ever before, the current PDP leadership has allowed each of the candidates to go out and canvass for votes.
“This is what we have been doing but we have the firm belief that at the end of the day, one person must emerge as the flag bearer of our great party. Whoever emerges, if it is not me, I am ready to support him.”
Earlier, PDP had screened some presidential aspirants including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki and Pius Anyim; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; Bauchi and Sokoto State Governors, Bala Mohammed and Aminu Tambuwal.
Others were River State Governor, Nyesom Wike; publisher of Ovation, Dele Momodu; former banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; pharmacist, Sam Ohabunwa, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom and the only female presidential aspirant, Olivia Tariela as well as former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.