June 01, (THEWILL) – Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Kashim, has withdrawn from the race.
The party’s spokesman, Malam Yayanuwa Zainabari, told a news conference in Bauchi that Kashim withdrew from the race, citing personal reasons.
He said the PDP would soon follow due process to replace Kashim.
“We shall make our position known within this week. The only option left for the party is to forward the name of his replacement to INEC for proper documentation”, he said.
Zainabari added that the party would replace Kashim with another competent, loyal and qualified member, either through a fresh primary election or through affirmation as required by the party’s Constitution and the relevant laws.
Kashim, the immediate past Secretary to the Government of Bauchi State, had polled 655 votes from the 656 delegates at the governorship primary election held last week.
But THEWILL learnt that Kashim, only stood in as a proxy for Governor Bala Mohammed, who was a presidential aspirant at the just concluded primary election of the party.
A source familiar with the development, said Kashim withdrew from the race to pave way for the governor, Bala Mohammed, to vie for a second term after his dismal outing at the presidential primaries.
At the party’s presidential primary election on Saturday, the Bauchi governor finished at fifth position, securing only 20 votes.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, polled 371 votes to become the standard-bearer of the party.
The new Electoral Act 2022, does not expressly address the substitution of candidates by a political party for whatever elective position. However, section 31 provides for the withdrawal of a candidate.
The section reads: “A candidate may withdraw his or her candidature by notice in writing signed by themselves and delivered personally by the candidate of the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the commission not later than 90 days to the election.”
Meanwhile, the State Government on Tuesday, relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Yelwa-Tsakani, Yelwa-Lushi, Kagadama and Birshi communities, in the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis.
The Government had on May 28, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the affected communities, following a communal clash, where three persons lost their lives, four others wounded and five houses razed.
A statement by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Aminu Gamawa, said the curfew was reviewed as normalcy returned, adding that the state government was on top of the situation.
“Following the civil unrest of Friday, May 27, 2022, that was ignited by miscreants in Kagadama, Tsakani and Lushi in Bauchi Local Government Area, the state government swiftly responded by deploying security personnel to the scene, who restored law and order, and made some arrests.
“Accordingly, a full scale investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident has commenced, while a 24-hour curfew imposed.
“Given the fact that the government is on top of the situation, normalcy has been restored to the affected areas, thus, it is deemed necessary that the imposed curfew be reviewed.
“Consequently, Gov. Bala Mohammed has approved the review of the 24-hour curfew imposed on Yelwa and environs to a 12-hour curfew, 6:00pm to 6:00 am”, he said.
This, he said, would allow law abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses, adding that the government would continue to monitor the situation to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state.
The statement also commended security agencies, community and religious leaders for their roles in promoting peace and harmonious coexistence in the state.
