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Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (Jigawa North-West)

He was a former governor of Jigawa State (1999-2007) and later elected Senator (2007-2011). He was also a successful and International business man even before he ventured into politics, a dogged fighter with high record of benevolence, he ruled the state for eight years and his influence cannot be wished away by mere wave of hand.

In his constituency, Senator Turaki remains a man to beat and despite emergence of some home boys gunning for his seat, his followership in the 12  local councils  that made up the Senatorial slot is enigmatic.

His greatest advantage is his amiable nature;  and his human development effort that suit the local politics and made him a force to reckon with.

Despite the forgoing, Turaki has to contend with Lamido’s might in the zone. His alleged non-performance in his four years at the Green chamber coupled with his pending case with the EFCC is something to worry about.

Senator Danladi A Sankara (Jigawa North-West) APC

A onetime Deputy National Chairman of the People’s  Democratic Party  in North-West and chairman of Hadejia River Basin Development Authority, and   a successful business man even before he ventured into politics. He was the immediate past Senator of Jigawa Northwest (2011-2015) under PDP and has performed wonderful well and is now all to re-contest for the senatorial seat.

His decision to be part of the race again was his record of achievements during his four year tenure, as his constituents have testified that they had never enjoyed the dividend of democracy since 1999. Sankara was defeated twice in 2007 and 2011 by Turaki‘s candidate, Alhaji Dalha Danzomo and Turaki himself

His greatest advantage however is his record of achievements; but his greatest disadvantage is the contention about his educational pedigree and his dual identity couple with his decamp to APC.

Jigawa elite are of the opinion that Dr Danladi Sankara never attended a formal education, and if record being bandied by his opponent is anything to rely on, the APC stalwart may have to retrace his steps.

Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Gumel (North-West) APC

Ahmed Mahmoud, past immediate deputy governor of Jigawa state for eight years, he has been in active politics in the various administrations governed by two civilian governors of the state, Governor Ibrahim Saminu Turaki from 1999-2007 and Governor Sule Lamido from 2007-2015. He first served as a Special Adviser on governmental affairs and later commissioner for finance under Turaki‘s regime.

Since his appointment as the Deputy Governor to Lamido, this quiet; calm and astute politician was reputed as one loyal, patient and dedicated politician who never said no to his boss in any circumstance. Mahmud is an astute and successful politician whose career began as a grassroots politician since the defunct SDP and rose to a professional and incisive personality in Jigawa politics.

His political career was further catapulted by then Governor Turaki when he held a sensitive position as the most powerful commissioner at the state ministry of Finance. Ahmed Mahmoud is known to be a politician of high integrity, who carries his people along irrespective of political differences and that he has distanced himself from mostly professional politicians who consider him as being too principled.

Hajia Ladi Ibrahim Dansure (North West) APC

Incumbent Commissioner for women affairs and a grassroots politician and bridge builder to reckon with, she is from Dansure town in Roni local government and served in various capacities since she retired from active service as permanent secretary. She was appointed as caretaker chairman of Auyo local government by the then military administrator.

Dansure was also a special adviser during the regime of ex-governor Saminu Turaki

She can be counted among the successors of APC victory in her area and the state at large during the 2015 campaign, her advocacy for women‘s right and development can work in her favour, while gender and religious issues may work against her.

Hon Abdullahi Ojo (North West) APC

He is the serving Senator in the red chamber who won the 2015 election in an easy going mode due to the absence of aspirants from the senatorial district within the APC, considered then as party of change which enable him to clinch the seat without any hitch.

Hon. Abdullahi Ojo was elected member House of Representatives (1999-2003) and later appointed special adviser to the then former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ojo‘s lackadaisical attitude to his constituents and poor performance in the last three years of his tenure at the Red Chamber may work against him.

Alhaji Hadi Ukashatu (North West) APC

A season retired civil servant, professional accountant and close associate of former governor Saminu Turaki. He was appointed as the State Accountant General who resigned voluntarily for his ideology and transparent in governance despite his intimacy with the then governor.

Ukashatu is a straight forward and principled politician who was part of the team responsible for the emergence of present APC administration of Badaru Abubakar in Jigawa and was compensated with the position of Chairman Board of Internal Revenue but he rejected the appointment.

Hadi is among the radical politicians who were giving Governor Badaru a nightmare. However, Ukashatu may face difficulty in his race considering his relationship with the government and the party.

Hon Yusuf Shittu Galambi (Jigawa North Central) APC

A former member House of Representatives, Gwaram federal constituency as well as a local and grass root intellectual politician, Hon. Galambi had variously served under Saminu Turaki as a  Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

He is simple, easy going and responsible and by all standard a patriot who has been contributing his resources, time and energy to the development of the people of his constituency. Galambi was amongs 370,000 PDP supporters in Jigawa who defected to APC in protest shortly after the 2015 elections. His care and concern for the masses coupled with constituency projects he had initiated during his tenure may work in his favour but the greatest challenge he may face might not be unconnected with the emergence of Lamido‘s son.

Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu (Jigawa North Central)   APC

He is currently the Senator representing the district at the Red Chamber. Nakudu is a successful international businessman cum politician who was elected as member House of Representatives (2007-2015) under PDP but later defected to APC and contested for a senatorial seat.

He is facing serious challenges for alleged non-performance from his constituents and this has made him to launch an empowerment program where he distributed items to his people and embarked on health care reform system which includes free eye treatment and other health related operations.

Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido (Jigawa North West) PDP

Mustapha Sule Lamido, son of former Jigawa state governor is a new breed and immature politician who is out to occupy the seat come 2019

With the level of poverty bedeviling majority of Jigawa residents, his kind gesture and his father‘s influence may work for him towards actualizing his dream of becoming the youngest senator. The major challenge with his pending case with the EFCC is however something to worry about.

Hon Ubale Shittu (Jigawa North East) PDP

He is the serving Senator from the senatorial district elected under the platform of APC in 2015 but decamped to PDP. According to pundits, Senator Shittu has excelled in satisfying the yearning and aspirations of his electorates, as it was reported that his people never had a good representative like Shittu since 1999.

He was a former  deputy governor  to Saminu Turaki in 2004, an appointment described by his boss as a ‘stop gap measure’, a position he voluntarily handed over due to irreconcilable differences. Ubale Shittu was NRP candidate in the 2007 governorship election in Jigawa but lost to Governor Sule Lamido.

He was later appointed as board member in one of the federal government parastatals; he joined the Turaki’s CAN. His chances of getting into the upper chamber may be his simplicity and political experience coupled with his giant strides in his constituency, but his disadvantages may be his recent decamp to PDP and his hatred and unguided utterances against President Buhari and Governor Badaru which may be used against him.

Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia (Jigawa North East)  APC

Currently the state Deputy Governor, he is a transparent and honest politician, commended for his ability to survive and stay for two terms as deputy governor. His greatest advantage was his seriousness to duty, his transparent posture, credibility and honesty.

A trained lawyer and professional Banker, he rose through the ranks of leadership first as a commissioner for Justice, then as secretary to the state government (SSG) and then Deputy Governor. It is believed that this political growth may be a pointer that he was being groomed to take over the North-East senatorial seat in 2019.

According to him the decision to contest the 2019 elections as a senatorial candidate was borne out of consistent demands by many well wishers who believe in his capacity to move the district forward and consolidate the great achievements recorded by their administration in the last three years. Many politicians in the state are not comfortable about his seeming transparent and down to earth posture. He is being described as a bureaucrat in politics by many politicians in the state.

Hon Ahmed Garba M K (Jigawa North East ) APC

A grassroots politician in Hadejia emirate and a onetime council chairman and special adviser in Ex-Turaki‘s government under ANPP. He won election into the state assembly under ANPP as member house of assembly representing Hadejia constituency.

He is presently a member of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, a very powerful and influential Deputy Speaker. His political structure and kind gesture will work in his favour. The contest is between him and the present Deputy Governor, Barrister Ibrahim Hadejia as well as the incumbent Senator Ubali Shittu

Hussaini Muhammed (Jigawa North East) APC

Hussaini, a Bursar at the state college of legal and Islamic studies Ringim and an immature politician who has no political   base. He was alleged to be sponsored in order to scuttle the aspiration of the present senator, Ubale who is at logger head with Governor Badaru Abubakar.

He will face a major challenge contesting the deputy governor, the deputy speaker and the sitting Senator.