Tag: Bala Mohammed

Ayade To Host Kano, Bauchi Govs, Marwa In Calabar

Ayade Mourns Cross River Lawmaker Nkoro Egbung
Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade (file)

 

Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, would next Friday play host to his Kano and Bauchi States counterparts.

While in the state, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State would grace the 2022 Cross River Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) media summit as Chairman of the occasion and is also expected to unveil the proposed NUJ veteran plaza.

A statement by the planning committee of the media week stated that Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed, would be the special guest of honour.

It also pointed out that other dignitaries expected at the occasion are the former military governor of Lagos State and Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Muhammed Buba Marwa and the Action Alliance presidential candidate Major Hamza Al Mustapha would be guests of honour.

The chairman of the 2022 Cross River Media week planning committee, Comrade Sam Nsor, also indicated that the keynote speaker at the event would be Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, while a former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and a retired Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner Barr. Mike Igini would be the guest lecturers.

The Chairman of the state NUJ, Comrade Nsa Gill stated that the theme for the week-long event “2023 General Elections, The Nigeria Project and the Media” was carefully selected to bring into focus the upcoming general election.

READ ALSO: Atiku And Okowa Visit Jonathan, Discuss ‘Plans To Recover Nigeria’

Nsa pointed out that the media week which is an annual event would kick-start with a city walk by members along major streets of the Calabar metropolis to create awareness.

He also indicated that the occasion would provide the enabling environment for the cross-fertilization of ideas among security experts, captains of industries, politicians and media practitioners as well as propound a road map for the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

According to him, other events outlined for the week to include medical outreach, visit to veterans of the profession and a town hall meeting by governorship candidates of the various political parties In the state tagged” MEET THE PRESS”.

Abia Police Commissioner Seeks Synergy With Military, Says Inter-Agency Rivalry Over  

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mohammed visits the Commander of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier General Moses Adetuyi.

 

The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mohammed Bala, has called for synergy between security agencies, especially the military for the overall good of the public.

He made the call on Saturday during separate courtesy visits to the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army at Ohafia and the Nigerian Navy College in Owerrinta areas of the state.

CP Bala said the visit will help provide service delivery by the Commander of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier General Moses Adetuyi, assuring that the era of inter-agency rivalry is over.

READ ALSO: Wanted Drug Baron Arrested As NDLEA Nabs Woman Linked To Pakistani Cocaine Syndicate

According to the police commissioner, the military should “support us so that we will discharge our duties effectively in order to ensure effective service delivery.”

In his remark, the Brigade Commander assured the State Police Commissioner of his support in ridding Abia of criminal elements.

Brigadier General Adetuyi said he has always told his men in the Brigade to always collaborate with other security agencies in view of the security challenges.

He also pledged that the issue of rivalry among security agencies will not occur under his commander in the 14 Brigade.

“You can be assured of our support of 14 Brigade. All my officers and men know where I stand when it comes to cooperation with our (security) agencies, especially the police,” he said.

“The issue of inter-agency rivalry that used to affect relationships in some other areas, will not occur under my watch.”

A similar assurance of synergy was also given by the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy College Owerrinta.

Abia is one of the states in the South-East that has been experiencing some attacks by gunmen who wreak havoc in the region.

Recently, they have targeted security formations including police stations where they have killed several security operatives while burning down facilities.

Despite efforts by the security agencies and the respective state governments, the gunmen still carry out attacks.

PDP G5 Governors Meet With Bala Mohammed

The G5 governors are demanding the resignation of the PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu.

 

Four members of the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have held a closed-door meeting with the Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed.

The four G5 governors in the meeting in Bauchi State include Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who was with his G5 colleagues to inaugurate some projects completed by Ortom in Benue State on Monday, was, however, absent.

READ ALSO: Some Of Wike’s Allies Will Work For Atiku, Says Dino Melaye

 

Wike said they are on a solidarity visit to Governor Mohammed and to also discuss ways they can intervene regarding some challenges surrounding his (Bauchi governor’s) re-election bid.

The governors in a meeting with their Bauchi State counterpart.

 

On his part, Governor Mohammed appreciated the show of concern and listed some of the issues as anti-party challenges and treachery in the state. He added that he is also willing to confide with the integrity group (G5) about his fears and worries.

The meeting is coming hours after the Bauchi State governor met with the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in Abuja following reports that he (Bauchi governor) threatened to leave the party’s presidential campaign if the former vice president’s loyalists work against his re-election.

The most recent development is a further crack in the PDP which has been battling an internal crisis since the party’s presidential primary in May.

Governor Wike, who lost to Atiku in the exercise, claimed that the process was not fair. He is also demanding the resignation of the party’s National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, insisting that he (Ayu) and the PDP flagbearer are from the same region.

Efforts so far to reconcile them have failed with Wike and his allies maintaining that they won’t participate in the party’s presidential campaigns.

PDP: Bala Mohammed Meets Atiku In Abuja

Atiku Abubakar met with Bala Mohammed in Abuja on November 8, 2022.
Atiku Abubakar met with Bala Mohammed in Abuja on November 8, 2022.

 

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed on Tuesday met with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja.

The meeting held amid unconfirmed reports that the Bauchi Governor was mulling withdrawing his support for Atiku’s 2023 presidential bid.

“Today, I led a delegation of Bauchi State stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to Abuja on a courtesy visit to the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,” Mohammed said in a statement.

Atiku Abubakar met with Bala Mohammed in Abuja on November 8, 2022.

 

“Key to our discussion were issues relating to the progress of our great party.”

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, spokesperson of the Atiku campaign, Dino Melaye, said Mohammed remained strongly in support of the Atiku campaign.

At least five Governors of the PDP have withdrawn their support for Mr Atiku.

PDP: Ayu, Tambuwal, Lamido Meet With Bala Mohammed In Bauchi

PDP chieftains met with Governor Bala Mohammed in Bauchi on November 5, 2022.
PDP chieftains met with Governor Bala Mohammed in Bauchi on November 5, 2022.

 

Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday met with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, Sokoto State Governor and Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Aminu Tambuwal and former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido were among those present at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors.

The PDP Chairman said part of the reasons for the meeting was to discuss some developments in the party.

Bala Mohammed, Abubakar, Others Sued Over Double Nominations

File photo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and a former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar and others have been sued by the People’s Redemption Party over their alleged unlawful nominations for the 2023 general elections.

The party is asking the Federal High Court Abuja, to disqualify the governor, ex-Air Chief and Senator Haliru Jika from participating in the 2023 governorship election in the state on specific grounds of alleged double nominations from their respective political parties.

READ ALSO: There Is No Justice In Nigeria – Gumi

The request forms part of the prayers being sought in three separate suits by the PRP and filed through its lawyer, Chris Udeoyibo.

In the suits, the plaintiff claims that Bala Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT);  Abubakar’s running mate, Shehu Musa and Jika (the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party – NNPP) violated the Electoral Act by allegedly engaging in double nomination.

The PRP is contending that having participated as a candidate in the May  28, 2022, presidential primary of the PDP and later as a candidate in the PDP’s governorship primary in Bauchi State on June 4, 2022, Mohammed is in violation of Section 177(c) of the Constitution as well as sections 84(13) and 115(d) of the Electoral Act 2022.

It wants the court to among others, restrain INEC from recognising Mohammed as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the next general elections and to bar him from further parading himself as the PDP candidate for the governorship election.

In a supporting affidavit, the PRP governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Ahmed Umar Farouk stated that having participated in both primaries, “during which he signed two nomination papers or result forms in respect of two different constituencies at the same time in breach of Section 177(c) of the Constitution as well as sections 84 (13) and 115 (d) of the Electoral Act 2022,  INEC should be restrained from allowing Mohammed and his party participate in the next governorship election in the state.

Farouk added that no law allows a candidate, including Mohammed to sign two nomination papers or results forms for both presidential and governorship primaries, which are two constituencies, at the same time and in the same election period in the 2023 general elections.

The PRP also wants the court to disqualify Abubakar and Musa as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next governorship election.

The PRP argued that Musa violated the Constitution and Electoral Act by allegedly participating in the House of Representatives primary held by the APC on May 28, 2022, which he won and subsequently, in the governorship primary held on June 4, 2022, where he became nominated as the deputy governorship candidate.

It also wants the court to among others, void the nomination of Jika (who currently represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District) on the grounds that he was not a valid member of the NNPP when he was nominated as the party’s governorship candidate.

Jika was said to have participated in the May 26 governorship primary of the APC in Bauchi State which was won by Abubakar but later defected to the NNPP to pick the governorship ticket.

The PRP stated, in a supporting affidavit that since Jika was a registered member of the APC in the Kafin Madaki ward, Ganjuwa Local Government, Bauchi State as when the APC held its primary, his name could not have been in the register of NNPP members, which the party is required to submit to INEC 30 days before its primary election.

The suits are yet to be assigned for hearing.

Bauchi Govt Declares June 27 Public Holiday For PVC Registration

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed speaks at the Government House in Bauchi State.

 

The Bauchi State Government has declared Monday, June 27 as a public holiday to enable eligible voters who are yet to register for their Permanent Voters Card to participate in the ongoing registration exercise.

This is contained in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado.

READ ALSO: Orubebe Holds Private Meeting With Wike After Dumping PDP

According to Gidado, the state-wide public holiday is to “enable citizens of the state who attained the age of 18 years after the 2019 general elections or lost their permanent voters card or even changed their location to take advantage of the ongoing INEC continuous voters registration exercise and obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).”

Governor Mohammed is also worried about the low participation of eligible voters for the exercise and he is directing all political appointees and other public office holders to mobilize registrants in their respective electoral wards for the exercise.

“Governor Bala Mohammed equally expressed serious concern on the low turn-out of eligible voters and therefore directed all hon. commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants, board chairmen, directors-general, executive secretaries, permanent secretaries, and other public office holders, to proceed to their respective electoral wards to mobilize eligible registrants to come out en-mass and register.”

Wike Receives Bala Mohammed After Peter Obi’s Visit

Wike and Bala contested the PDP presidential primary election.

 

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Wednesday paid a visit to his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, at his private residence in Port Harcourt.

This was moments after the former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, met with Governor Wike at his residence.

Both meetings were held separately behind closed doors.

None of them also spoke to journalists about the purpose of the meetings as no media coverage was allowed.

Obi and Bala’s visit was held four days after the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, was also received by Governor Wike at night.

The visit comes after Peter Obi was received by Governor Wike.

 

All the visitors and their host were presidential aspirants in the last primary conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While Umahi was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC, Bala Mohammed and Nyesom Wike contested on the platform of the PDP.

Peter Obi, who was seeking the ticket of the PDP, pulled out of the race mid-way to pick the presidential ticket of the Labour Party (LP).

 

Political consultations are expected to be high in the run-off to the 2023 elections as political parties have concluded the selection of party flag bearers and running mates for the elections.

Bala Mohammed Gets PDP Ticket To Rerun For Bauchi Governorship

A file photo of Governor Bala Mohammed.

 

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2023 governorship election.

Mohammed had been in the race for the PDP presidential ticket which he lost to Atiku Abubakar.

READ ALSO: Aspirants Ask Court To Nullify All PDP Primaries Conducted In Oyo

He emerged the governorship candidate at a fresh primary conducted in the state following the withdrawal of former candidate, Ibrahim Kashim.

Mohammed was the sole candidate for the election as delegates from 20 local government areas cast their ballot.

Reacting to his victory, Mohammed said he has put the presidential primary behind him and is ready to work for the success of the party from top to bottom.

Bala Mohammed Reappoints Ex-PDP Governorship Candidate As Bauchi SSG

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed speaks at the Government House in Bauchi State.

 

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has reappointed Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim as the Secretary to the State Government.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Mohammed.

READ ALSO: Bauchi Governor May Reclaim Ticket As PDP Candidate Withdraws

“His Excellency Sen. Bala A. Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State has approved the re-appointment of Barr. Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim as the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government,” the statement read.

“His re-appointment is informed by his track record of sincerity, loyalty, commitment, and wealth of experience in the discharge of assigned responsibilities.

“Barr. Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim was the immediate past Secretary to the Bauchi State Government. The appointment takes immediate effect.”

Kashim had earlier resigned his position as SSG to contest the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he clinched the party’s ticket.

This is to enable Governor Mohammed to seek the PDP’s presidential ticket. He, however, lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar last Saturday.

After clinching the party’s governorship ticket a few days ago in Bauchi, Kashim gave up his ambition to Governor Mohammed who seeks re-election in the North-Eastern state under the PDP.

Bauchi Governor May Reclaim Ticket As PDP Candidate Withdraws

A file photo of Governor Bala Mohammed.

 

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is likely to emerge as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

He is seeking to get the party’s ticket to be re-elected for a second term in office after losing his bid to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari as the next Nigerian leader in 2023.

The coast seems clear for him as the PDP in Bauchi State is set to hold a fresh governorship primary following the withdrawal of its candidate, Kashim Shettima who emerged unopposed during the governorship primary held last Wednesday.

The PDP Publicy Secretary Bauchi State, Inuwa Zainabari, confirmed the development.

He said Kashim Shettima has since given a written correspondence confirming his withdrawal from the race but his reasons for forfeiting his ticket are not clear.

According to him, the party is making preparations for a fresh primary election and they are proposing Saturday as the new date.

The publicity secretary says he cannot confirm for now if there would be other aspirants who may be contesting alongside Bala.

He added that the party is abiding by the procedures recognised by the law, adding that it is either they organise a fresh primary or go for a direct substitution option.

Buhari Surrounds Himself With Liars, Sycophants – Bala Mohammed

A file photo of Governor Bala Mohammed.

 

Bauchi State Governor and presidential aspirant, Bala Mohammed, believes President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the country because he surrounds himself with liars and sycophants.

Mohammed expressed this belief on Sunday while campaigning in Katsina State ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries.

“Katsina is a state that produces good leaders for the country,” he told PDP delegates in the state. “What late Umaru Musa Yar’adua of the blessed memory did was the only thing that makes us proud.

READ ALSO: PDP Blasts Emefiele Over ‘Heart Attack’ Comment, Insists He Can’t Continue As CBN Governor

“Unfortunately, (President Buhari) has attached himself with a bunch of liars, sycophants and bad people because he was a soldier and he doesn’t know people’s attitudes, he doesn’t have knowledge of government job; he has never entered villages. He thought everybody is trustworthy.

“But we can differentiate between good and the bad people.

“We have to correct all the mistakes the president did because all eyes are on us the northerners. Irrespective of the political party you support, you must bring a good hand who knows what he is doing to reclaim the integrity of the North for our incoming generations to be respected.

“We don’t have security in our country as if we don’t have government. Farming activities have been paralyzed, our children’s education has been affected, hunger and looting is on the increase.”