The Caretaker Chairman of Adamawa State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engineer Belmond Dogo, has said that the party chose Alhaji Abubakar Mahmud Wambai as the running mate for its gubernatorial candidate, Dr Maurice Vunobolki, so as to preserve the prevailing religious harmony and social order in the state.

He stated that just as the outgoing governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, a Muslim selected a Christian, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta, as his running mate for the 2023 governorship, PDP did its home work and resolved that a Christian governorship candidate should have a Muslim deputy.

Recall that at the height of the issue of who deputises Vunobolki, the PDP gubernatorial candidate formulated five criteria for the ideal running mate, insisting that the party should look for persons with integrity, trustworthy, competent, well-educated and acceptable to the people.

At the end of series of vigorous searches and meetings, the party reportedly penciled three candidates in descending order, which prompted the governorship candidate and the party leaders to settle for the first option on the list, Wambai, who is also the Madakin Mubi.

Speaking while presenting the deputy governorship candidate to stakeholders on the weekend, Dogo declared that the Vunobolki/Wambai ticket is a sure bet and meets the expectations of Adamawa people, even as he described Wambai as an accomplished legislator, administrator and respected traditional leader.

“Wambai’s selection,” the caretaker chairman noted, “represents a strategic step toward strengthening the party’s electoral prospects. Indeed, the Vunobolki-Wambai ticket embodies the ideals of peace, unity and inclusive development.

“This is the winning ticket that Adamawa people are yearning for. We are confident that the partnership would provide the leadership needed to advance the state’s socio-economic transformation.”

Dogo assured the massive crowd of party executives, stakeholders, traditional leaders and supporters from the entire 21 Local Government Areas of the state, Vunobolki/Wambai governorship ticket reflects PDP’s efforts to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 polls.

In his acceptance cum thank-you speech, Wambai said he would not disappoint the PDP leadership and Chief Maurice Vunobolki for the confidence reposed in him, and pledged unwavering loyalty to the ticket.

While pledging to work diligently in delivering a people-centred administration if elected, the Madakin Mubi declared: “I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of commitment.

“Together, we will build an inclusive government that creates opportunities for every citizen and positions Adamawa among Nigeria’s leading states.”

Earlier in his remarks, the PDP governorship hopeful, Vunobolki, disclosed that Wambai’s emergence was a product of “careful and strategic decision driven by competence, experience and the collective interest of the party.”

He invited the Adamawa electorate to assess and compare the PDP and other candidates based on their educational background, professional exposure, public service record and measurable contributions to society, insisting that the PDP ticket offers a combination of leadership capacity and grassroots cum traditional connection.

Similarly, Vunobolki formally presented Hon. Yerima Hammantukur Ribadu, Dan Madamin Fufore, as the party’s chosen Director-General of the Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, noting that as an experienced grassroots mobiliser, Ribadu is capable of coordinating a broad-based campaign across the state.

“The composition of the campaign team reflects PDP’s commitment to community-driven governance, highlights the inclusion of respected grassroots and traditional leaders whose understanding of local communities would help shape policies that respond directly to the needs of the people,” Vunobolki stated.

Abubakar Mahmud Wambai, a graduate of Bayero University, Kano, served previously in the Nigerian Postal Service and the Nigerian Immigration Service before his appointment as District Head of Guy.

He also represented his constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives for two consecutive terms and currently holds the traditional title of Madakin Mubi. “It is this blend of legislative experience, administrative service and traditional leadership that Adamawa PDP regarded as a significant asset to its 2027 governorship campaign,” said Uche Nwafor Gotel of the Vunobolki campaign.