Dep gov mum as Jatau declares self Bauchi PDP running mate

House of Representatives member for Zaki Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Auwal Jatau, has declared himself as the running mate to Governor Bala Mohammed in the 2023 general election.

Jatau told journalists yesterday: “I use this medium to express my profound appreciation to the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, for finding me worthy to be his running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Bauchi.

“This is a great honour to me and I to assure the governor that I will justify the confidence reposed in me.”
The former House of Assembly speaker also contested the 2015 governorship election under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against former Governor Mohammad Abubakar, who defeated him.

Governor Mohammed has yet to publicly declare Jatau as his new running mate, but there are strong indications that he is not going to be running with his incumbent deputy, Baba Tela.

When The Guardian contacted Tela’s media aide, Sani Mu’azu, he denied knowledge of the report. When asked whether Tela would be running with the governor in 2023, he said: “I don’t know. I can’t say anything about that. I’m not in town. I have not seen the report you are referring to.”