By John Ikani
Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd.) has been declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Bauchi State.
Abubakar, who is Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Chad, polled 370 votes to defeat six other aspirants in the primary election held on Thursday in Bauchi.
His closest rival, Halliru Jika, a Senator representing Bauchi Central, scored 278 votes.
Other rivals include Nura Manu who polled 269 votes, Musa Babayo scored 70 votes, while Mahmud Maijama’a scored 8 votes.
Muhammed Pate did not score any vote.
It is worthwhile to note that Mr Abubakar served as Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff from July 13, 2015, to January 26, 2021.
President Muhammadu Buhari later appointed him as Nigeria’s ambassador to Chad. He resigned from that appointment to join the Bauchi governorship race.
While addressing journalists shortly after the exercise, Abubakar described dedicated his victory to the people of Bauchi State as well as his party.
According to him, he would work towards the unity of the party in order to emerge victorious in the 2023 general elections.
“It is not a victory for me but a victory for all of us. I want to assure you that we will work together in other to change the narrative about Bauchi State out there. So the victory is for everybody,” he said.
“The victory means that we have to work together, mobilise people, transform the state and prepare for the elections in 2023.”
