NNPCL top executive, Bala Wunti’s Bauchi 2027 guber ambition ruffles PDP

Bauchi State’s political landscape is heating up as rumors swirl about a possible gubernatorial bid by Bala Wunti, a top executive at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Though Bala Wunti has yet to make an official declaration, whispers of his interest in the 2027 race have sent shockwaves through the ranks of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which currently holds power in the state.

Wunti, a top figure in the oil and gas sector and current Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), is said to be nursing ambition to take over from Bala Mohammed as the state governor in 2027. Although, the latter has not publicly declared his ambition as he is still in the public service.

Inside sources told Daily Nigerian that Bala Wunti may emerge as Governor Mohammed’s ‘anointed candidate’ for the position.

The rumour mill suggests that the state governor who has been at the helm of the state since 2019, may favour Wunti as his successor

While the rumours have not been officially confirmed, the growing talk around Wunti’s potential candidacy has begun to unsettle members of the PDP, raising questions about party unity and the balance of power within the state.

Speculation about Governor Mohammed and Wunti’s close ties is stirring unrest in the PDP, with several party members questioning the fairness of this perceived arrangement.

Though Wunti has not openly declared his intentions, it is understood that he has secretly obtained his PDP membership card.

Some within the PDP have noted that while Wunti may have significant financial backing and rich background in the oil and gas sector, his potential weakness lies in his lack of strong political strength at the state which could become a liability unless the power of incumbency helps him gain traction. On the other hand, others argued that his business acumen and strategic thinking could serve Bauchi well, should he decide to run for office.

“Political and traditional leaders in the state have been mobilized to begin a discreet campaign for Wunti to emerge as the PDP gubernatorial candidate and subsequently win the 2027 election,” a member of the Bala Wunti campaign said.

“We will win the 2027 election and Wunti will be the governor. Our slogan ‘Daga Bala, Sai Bala’ is not a joke but is now the most spoken political word in Bauchi. You can ask around my brother,” stated a source who craved anonymity.

Critics within the party however argue that the endorsement of a single candidate could create divisions, alienating other key figures within the party who might have their own aspirations for the gubernatorial race.

Others vying for the governorship seat and Wunti’s prospects

At the moment, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Health Minister Ali Pate, former Chief of Air Staff Abubakar El-Sadique, and a senator representing Bauchi South, Shehu Buba, are the possible contenders for the governorship seat in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While the possible opposition contenders are many in APC, the contenders in the PDP are still lurking in the shadows.

Meanwhile, the recent tacit expression of interest by Dr. Ali Pate, the Health Minister, has caused some concern within Wunti’s camp. Pate’s experience and credentials have made him a formidable contender. A source noted that both the governor’s and Wunti’s camps are now in a “panic mode” because of Pate’s impressive CV and his political experience.

Pate, while speaking about the need to strengthen the APC in Bauchi, had indicated his readiness to serve the state if given the opportunity.

He stated, “I think we are very closely connected with the grassroots in the state. And I think the issues facing the state are very clear. But it will not come to be if the party is not united. And my singular focus is to unify APC in Bauchi, to support the president to achieve what he is trying to achieve now, and also what comes off in 2027.”

However, some analysts have cast doubt on Pate’s influence, citing his minimal political maneuvering since he resurfaced in 2023. A pundit, Musa Garba, remarked, “It is worth recalling that after being absent from the political scene for four years, Pate resurfaced in 2023 as one of several uninspiring APC governorship aspirants. In that primary election, Sadique Abubakar secured 370 votes (36.24%), Haliru Dauda Jika garnered 278 votes (27.23%), and Nura Manu Soro received 269 votes (26.35%). Meanwhile, the so-called political gladiator, Mr. Pate, failed to secure a single vote—ending with a humiliating total of zero (0.00%).”

As for Yusuf Tuggar, the Foreign Affairs Minister, he has reportedly joined forces with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to prevent Governor Bala from handing over the reins of leadership to an anointed successor. Tuggar’s rivalry with the governor became evident after Mohammed’s critical comments about President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which many interpreted as a sign that the governor might be eyeing the presidency in 2027.

A local politician, Muazu Lamara, stated, “Tuggar himself doesn’t also have the rallying point to be able to get the ticket of the party, even though he is a minister. We saw what happened last time, Sadique won the primary even when he [Tuggar] was an Ambassador, simply because he could not command that political strength to get persons behind him.”

The political landscape in Bauchi is thus in flux as various figures jostle for the gubernatorial ticket in 2027.

With Wunti’s rumoured candidacy creating ripples in the PDP and multiple contenders emerging from the APC, the next few months will be crucial in shaping the state’s political future.

In the meantime, all eyes will remain on Bala Wunti and his next steps, as his rumoured ambition continues to stir up the political waters in Bauchi State.