BY Aliyu Dangida

Katsina State had since 1999 been controlled by PDP at the state level. However, with the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect, the wind of change may see that jinx broken, given the overwhelming victory that was recorded penultimate Saturday.

Though Buhari had in the past won the state for his party in past presidential and National Assembly elections, the governorship had always been a tough nut to crack. Now that nut is about to unfold on its own. That is mainly because the party and the associates of Buhari in the state may have for once put behind them the spate of intrigues that had in the past disunited them. The practise was that while they would join hands to deliver Buhari at the presidential elections, they almost always after that brought down one another in the governorship and other legislative elections.

But now for once, the House of Buhari is going into the election as a united body behind the aspiration of Aminu Bello Masari for governor of the state.

The chances of the party were boosted immediately after the presidential elections when the PDP was bestirred by a series of defections. The APC has also continuously organised rallies where Buhari’s messages are played on audio urging his supporters to vote for the APC across board.

However, it is not as if the ruling party in the state has totally given up. Especially when the outgoing government has a solid testimonial of performance on ground.

However, the ruling PDP still believes that the presidential election will not have any impact in next week’s election, given its acceptability and performance. Though it had happened before, the noise will die down and people will vote according to personality and not party affiliation.

For the PDP, incumbency factor and unhindered access to resources will greatly be explored but APC believes that these cannot stand in its way. Several factors may be brought to play between the two leading candidates as their popularity and acceptance seem to be high while the election is too close to call.

Musa Nashuni, the PDP candidate is being strongly backed by Governor Ibrahim Shema to win the election. Governor Shema  was solely behind his emergence as the flag bearer of the party. The incumbency factor and access to resources will greatly help Nashuni’s bid for the exalted seat.

Another plus for Nashuni is the recent support he is getting from some of the aggrieved aspirants of the party’s primary. The likes of Aminu Yaradua, Kabir Barkiya and Nura Khalil have sheathed their swords and given him their support.   The track record of the party which has been in power since 1999 may boost its chances at the polls.

Nashuni’s academic qualification of having a first class degree in Mining from Camborne School of Mines in the United Kingdom and Masters Degree from Queens University Kingston, Ontario, has always been hammered upon by the party and his role in the government of the day in which it is believed he played a vital role in some key policy decisions which cannot be allowed to discontinue, have equally given him a head start.

However for Masari, his vast political experience at both national and state levels is overwhelming. This is also the third time he is taking a shot at the governorship of the state. The growing popularity and acceptance of his party is unprecedented, being the home of the party’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

Masari’s outreach strategies are believed to be earning him more people, he is always ready to accept and participate in any given fora to sell his candidacy and program which would make him accessible to the electorate.

The party is equally enjoying support of other opposition parties who have thrown their weight behind it. They campaign for it at any given moment. The gubernatorial candidates of the PDM and APGA are equally indirectly campaigning for the APC where they called for people to vote for it at national level and for them at state level.

The former Speaker hails from the Funtua senatorial district which has the largest number of voters and a zone that has longed for power shift, having never produced a governor for the state. This underlining attribute will make the zone to support its candidate for the actualisation of their dream.