The political landscape in Jigawa State witnessed a major shift on Friday as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dropped its only serving senator in the state, Senator Mustapha Khabeeb of Jigawa Southwest Senatorial District, a second-timer and picked Alhaji Aminu Wada Abubakar, the son of former deputy governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party instead settled for a youthful politician, Alhaji Aminu Wada Abubakar, popularly known as Dokajin Dutse, who emerged as the PDP consensus candidate for the senatorial district amid growing calls for a more people-oriented and grassroots-driven representation.

Alhaji Aminu Wada Abubakar Dokajin Dutse is the first son of the former deputy governor of Kano State, Late Wada Abubakar, under the defunct People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in 1983.

Investigations revealed that the decision followed mounting complaints from party loyalists and constituents who accused the incumbent senator of poor representation, inadequate engagement with party members and failure to initiate impactful programmes capable of improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people since his election in 2023.

Sources within the party disclosed that many stakeholders in the district were dissatisfied with what they described as the absence of visible empowerment programmes, especially those targeting youths, women and rural communities struggling with unemployment, poverty and limited access to economic opportunities.

Aminu Wada Abubakar, who arrived the PDP State Secretariat in Dutse on Friday evening alongside hundreds of enthusiastic supporters and party faithful, later obtained his nomination form amid chants and jubilation from supporters who described his emergence as “a new beginning” for the zone.

Speaking shortly after obtaining the form, the PDP standard-bearer pledged to pursue legislative initiatives that would directly address poverty, youth unemployment and women empowerment through agriculture, education, healthcare and skills acquisition programmes.

He stressed that the current realities facing Northern Nigeria, particularly insecurity, economic hardship and declining educational standards, require leaders with practical ideas and commitment towards human capital development and sustainable economic growth.

According to him, his major priority would be to sponsor people-centred laws and policies capable of transforming the lives of ordinary citizens, particularly young people and women who form a significant percentage of the population.

“We are coming with a fresh vision that will prioritise empowerment, education and economic development. Our youths need opportunities, our women need support and our farmers require better policies and access to modern agricultural programmes,” he stated.

Check by Nigerian Tribune in the state indicated that apart from the APC and PDP, no other political party in Jigawa State has so far produced candidates through either primary elections or consensus arrangements ahead of the 2027 polls. (TRIBUNE)