Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has dumped his deputy, Senator Baba Tela ahead of the 2023 general election and picked former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Auwal Jatau, as his running mate.

Jatau is the current member representing Zaki federal constituency in the House of Representatives and also the Bauchi PDP gubernatorial flag-bearer in 2015.

He was however defeated by Mohammed Abdullahi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who served only one term in office.

Announcing his nomination as Mohammed’s running mate to journalists in Bauchi on Sunday, Jatau thanked the governor for finding him worthy of the position.

Jatau, a former Speaker of the Bauchi State Assembly, promised to reciprocate the honour by being a loyal and supportive running mate for the success of the PDP-led administration in the implementation of Governor Mohammed’s people-oriented projects.

READ ALSO: Bauchi govt privatises hotels, meat factory, fertiliser

“I want to use this medium to express my profound appreciation to His Excellency, the incumbent Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for finding me worthy to be his running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Bauchi State,” he said.

The lawmaker further described his nomination as a running mate to Governor Mohammed ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election as a great honour.

While assuring the governor of his readiness to justify the confidence reposed in him, Jatau said no government in the history of Bauchi State has performed better than Bala Mohammed.

“All of us are surprised with the performances of our Governor in the delivery of dividends of democracy to the entire people of the state and we must appreciate His Excellency for making us proud.

“Our 2023 campaign would be based on what we have achieved so far and things that we can do in our second term, and Insha Allah the achievements recorded by the Governor would be key to our collective victory in the outcome of the governorship election,” he added.

Jatayu, however, urged the people of Bauchi State to support Governor Mohammed-led administration for progress and continuity of good governance.

The Star