Bauchi Gov Swears In 20 LG Chairmen, Warns Against Misappropriation

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday swore-in the 20 newly elected local government chairmen following the August 17, 2026, local government elections conducted by the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC).

The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Government House, Bauchi, also featured the administration of the oath of office on a newly appointed commissioner and seven special advisers.

The oath of office was administered to the newly elected chairmen by Justice Aliyu Usman, who represented the Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Bala Mohammed, said his administration had, since assuming office in 2019, remained committed to strengthening democracy and good governance at the grassroots.

He said the administration had conducted three local government elections in 2020, 2024 and 2026.

According to him, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the ruling party in the state, won all 20 chairmanship seats and 319 of the 323 councillorship seats contested across the 20 local government areas.

The governor described the outcome as an indication of the people’s confidence in the policies and programmes of his administration.

He said the victory also demonstrated that the APM had emerged as a formidable political platform despite being relatively new and smaller than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Mohammed said the result of the election should serve as a warning to opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He attributed the party’s electoral success to what he described as the administration’s visible development projects across the state.

The governor highlighted road infrastructure as one of the major areas of achievement, saying his administration had completed more than 3,000 kilometres of roads out of the 5,000-kilometre target set for the state.

He assured that the remaining roads would be completed before the end of his administration, God willing.

He also said the state government, in collaboration with international development partners and the federal government, was providing rural access roads and agricultural market infrastructure to connect farming communities with major markets.

Addressing the newly sworn-in chairmen, Governor Mohammed urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate.

He said their emergence was based on their personal qualities, competence, integrity and loyalty, adding that they must demonstrate these qualities in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The governor said the calibre of people now seeking to serve at the local government level represented a new standard in grassroots leadership.

“We now have PhD holders, a former Head of Service and a former House Leader going back to serve at the local government level,” he said.

He stressed that local governments should no longer be regarded as places where public funds were merely shared, but as institutions requiring competent leadership capable of addressing the challenges confronting their people.

Governor Mohammed charged the chairmen to remain accountable, humble and committed to serving the people.

He warned them against misappropriating local government funds for personal purposes, saying the financial autonomy granted to local governments had placed greater responsibility on their leadership.

“With the financial autonomy now granted to local governments to run their affairs, you have no excuse for underperformance,” he said.

He also appealed to residents and stakeholders across the state to give the newly elected chairmen the opportunity to serve, urging them to moderate their expectations and allow the chairmen to concentrate on delivering good governance.

The governor further urged the chairmen to work closely with their councillors and local government management staff to deliver meaningful development at the grassroots.

While acknowledging the autonomy of local governments, he called for continued cooperation between the councils and the state government in pursuit of the common interest of the people.

Governor Mohammed also charged the new council leaders to make security a priority, stressing the need for collaboration with security agencies, traditional institutions, communities and other stakeholders to sustain peace across the state.

The governor also swore in Hon. Muhammad Tukur Adamu as Commissioner and assigned him to the Ministry of Water Resources, alongside seven newly appointed special advisers.

Speaking on behalf of the newly elected local government chairmen, the former Bauchi State Head of Service and newly elected chairman of Ningi LGA, Yahuza Adamu Haruna, expressed appreciation to Governor Mohammed for his support and for providing an opportunity for them to serve.

He pledged that the chairmen would work diligently to implement the administration’s policies and programmes across the 20 local government areas.

“We are grateful for the successful election and for the opportunity to come together as one. We sincerely appreciate your support and assure you that we will do more to deliver on our responsibilities,” he said.

Recall that BASIEC chairperson, Hajiya Jummai S. Abubakar, had announced that the APM won all 20 chairmanship seats in the August 17 local government elections.

She said Bappah Aliyu Mohammed won Alkaleri LGA with 107,482 votes; Umar Mohammed Aliyu won Bauchi LGA with 125,170 votes; while Zakka Luka Magaji emerged victorious in Bogoro with 25,282 votes.

In Dambam, Iliya Isah polled 19,730 votes; Ya’u Samaila Sade won Darazo with 67,276 votes; while Mohammed Abubakar Jibo won Dass with 35,264 votes.

Other winners were Ali Babayo in Gamawa with 54,423 votes; Mohammed Idris M. in Ganjuwa with 24,150 votes; Mustapha Alhaji Musa in Giade with 33,864 votes; Dankawuwa Ya’u in Itas/Gadau with 24,989 votes; and Inuwa Abdullahi in Jama’are with 36,766 votes.

Yusuf Babayo Zaki won Katagum with 65,626 votes; Garba Musa won Kirfi with 24,787 votes; Salisu Hussaini won Misau with 34,378 votes; while Yahuza Adamu Haruna won Ningi with 29,387 votes.

In Shira, former Bauchi State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Saleh Hodi Jibir, polled 37,135 votes.

Sama’ila Wakili Lere won Tafawa Balewa with 46,625 votes; Abubakar Ibrahim Dembo emerged victorious in Toro with 109,999 votes; Habibu Idris Usman won Warji with 43,066 votes; while Mas’ud Aliyu secured victory in Zaki with 19,984 votes.

On the councillorship election, BASIEC said the APM won 319 of the 323 ward seats contested across the state.

The remaining four seats were won by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The SDP won Dandango Ward in Bauchi LGA; NRM won Darazo South Ward in Darazo LGA; ZLP won Wandi Ward in Dass LGA; while YPP secured Zirami Ward in Giade LGA.