An APC stalwart in Bauchi, Hon. Farouk Mustapha has received thousands of defectors from three different political parties; namely the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, the People’s Redemption Party, PRP and People’s Democratic Movement, PDM in Shira LGA of Bauchi State.
The decampees who were from the three political parties resolved to defect to the APC to join forces with Hon. Farouk ‘in view of his track records of grassroots politicking’, which they say will salvage Bauchi State from the dungeon of under-development.
Ayuba Hassan, a member of the NNPP in Shira said “Farouk is the only progressive political figure in Katagum Zone with mass following because of his good public posture, and the many interventions he has accorded his constituents over the years.
“Farouk has all the potentials and leadership qualities needed to restore the lost glory of Bauchi State because he is the only grassroots politician I know that has acceptability across party lines”, Hassan argued.
Hassan who recalled that Farouk was voted across party lines in the 2019 general election when he aspired to represent Bauchi North at the upper legislative chamber noted that the recent gale of defection to APC was motivated by Farouk’s outstanding records.
Another decampee, Aliyu Yunusa who was a member of the People’s Redemption Party before joining the All-Progressives Congress said, “my defection to APC is to join progressives like minds to prevail on Farouk vie for the governorship seat in Bauchi State.
“Hon. Farouk Mustapha is widely respected and he is the only politician in this zone that has the qualities to unite the people because he has no history of rivalry with anyone”, he said.
Some of the defectors who joined the All Progressives Congress include the Chairman of NNPP Shira Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Dodo, 9 wards chairmen alongside their executives.
Hon. Farouk Mustapha is seen by many as the favourite governorship aspirant that is likely to give the incumbent governor Bala Mohammed a run for his money comes 2023.
He’s rumoured to be favoured by a former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.
Farouk had in 2019 contested for the Bauchi North Senatorial election where he lost to Adamu Bulkachuwa in an election that was touted to have been widely rigged in favour of the later.
