By: Daure David
If history must be fair, then credit must be given where it’s due.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Bauchi State has never been an easy battleground for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in presidential elections. The state’s only moment of alignment with the PDP at the presidential level came during the 1999 elections. After that, the story took a familiar and painful turn. The PDP lost its grip. The people of Bauchi aligned their destiny, almost religiously, with a singular figure — Muhammadu Buhari.
From 2003 through 2019, Buhari was more than a candidate in Bauchi—he was a phenomenon. Whether he flew the flag of the ANPP, CPC, or eventually the APC, the state followed. His connection with the Northern grassroots was unmatched. PDP’s strongest candidate from the North, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar—the Wazirin Adamawa—could not alter that equation. Even when Atiku had the advantage of home region proximity and national prominence, he was outmatched by Buhari’s hold on Northern Nigeria.
The PDP watched, election after election, as Bauchi slipped further from its grasp. Presidential elections in Bauchi were reduced to formalities—APC (or its precursor platforms) had an assumed lead, and PDP merely participated.
But 2023 Changed Everything
Then came the 2023 elections. A year that rewrote many assumptions in Nigeria’s political landscape. A year that revealed not just the cracks in old coalitions but also the birth of new political awakenings.
In Bauchi, what happened wasn’t just a political event—it was a quiet revolution. At the heart of it stood Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State—fondly known as Kaura. Against all odds, in a political terrain considered unfavourable to the PDP, he engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent electoral history.
Let the record be clear: Bauchi voted for the PDP in the 2023 presidential election—for the first time in 24 years.
This victory wasn’t ceremonial; it was historic. It wasn’t simply about Atiku Abubakar winning Bauchi—it was about reclaiming the political soul of the North East for the PDP. It was about resilience, strategy, and the fierce loyalty of one man who refused to bow to pressure: Governor Bala Mohammed.
Not an Easy Path
Those who understand the inner workings of Bauchi’s political terrain know that this did not come easy. The APC was formidable. The Tinubu campaign, understanding the strategic importance of Bauchi, came hard. The ruling party deployed its full arsenal—resources, alliances, and pressure. But Kaura remained unfazed.
Internally, PDP in Bauchi was not without its issues. Party infighting, parallel interests, and factional grievances could have torn the party apart before election day. Many predicted a collapse. But Kaura held his ground. He rallied the base, brokered uneasy truces, reinvigorated the grassroots, and ran a campaign not just of slogans but of sincerity and structure.
He didn’t just deliver PDP in the presidential election; he delivered it in the face of adversity. His victory was not a fluke—it was engineered, block by block, ward by ward, vote by vote. And the result? Bauchi didn’t just go PDP—it gave Atiku Abubakar a better performance than his own home state of Adamawa.
A Testament to Political Capital
What does this say about Kaura? It says he is not just a governor, not just a former FCT minister or a seasoned bureaucrat. It says that Senator Bala Mohammed is a political force, deeply rooted, and profoundly respected.
While many were distracted by power plays in Abuja, Kaura was defending the soul of the party in the trenches. He didn’t seek the spotlight. He sought victory—for the party, for the region, and for democracy.
This is not to say he didn’t face betrayals. He did. There were attempts—both internal and external—to derail his mission. Stakeholders who should have stood by him chose neutrality or opposition. There were plots, propaganda, and pressure to waver. But Kaura remained steadfast. And in the end, he proved that loyalty, when combined with strategic intelligence and grassroots presence, is a powerful force.
A Wake-Up Call to the Party
As the PDP continues its post-2023 reflections, it must not make the mistake of erasing the contributions of its real defenders. Too often, party stalwarts are remembered too late—when the battle is lost or the momentum has shifted. Just as Wike became a post-2023 scapegoat in the South, we must resist the urge to overlook those who actually delivered in the North.
The time for reform and reconciliation within the PDP is now—not in 2026 or 2027. The party must begin by recognizing and empowering those who stood tall when others fled. Kaura deserves not just a handshake, but a seat at the table where PDP’s future is being planned. He is a key stakeholder not by declaration, but by demonstrated results.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As the nation looks ahead to the 2027 elections, the lessons from Bauchi must not be ignored. When the chips were down, when the North East looked uncertain, it was Governor Bala Mohammed who delivered. Not with noise, not with bluster, but with effective mobilization, unity, and conviction.
Nigeria needs leaders who can combine character with competence, loyalty with leadership. And if the PDP must rebuild itself ahead of 2027, it must look no further than Bauchi for one of its most reliable pillars.
Kaura answered the call in 2023. The question is: will the party answer his, when the time comes?
Let us be fair. Let us be honest. Bauchi didn’t flip itself. It took vision, strength, sacrifice, and above all—Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
History, when it is finally written, will remember this moment. And it will remember Kaura.
