Bauchi 2027 Governorship Race: Bala Wunti Emerges as a Cross-Party Electoral Phenomenon

By Enyi Ejike Umunnabuike Jr, reporting from Bauchi State

The old tradition of political behaviour in which the electorate is compelled to remain loyal to certain dominant political parties endorsed by the elite is fast fading. A new trend is emerging—one that prioritizes individual competence and integrity over party affiliation.

Across Bauchi State, a dramatic shift toward personality-driven politics is gaining ground. Voters are increasingly evaluating candidates based on character and capacity rather than political party labels.

This new political consciousness is largely credited to the growing influence of Dr. Bala Wunti, an Ahmadu Bello University graduate of Chemistry who also holds a Master’s degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, USA.

Dr. Wunti’s emergence has redefined electoral behaviour in Bauchi State, a region known for its deep political history as the birthplace of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Today, Bauchi is at the forefront of a new political reawakening driven by an intellectually vibrant movement known as The Bala Wunti Nakowa Movement (BWNM)—a non-governmental organization spearheading a people-focused campaign for leadership based on integrity and competence.

Over the past months, the BWNM has deployed strategic communication and sensitization initiatives that have resonated across electoral wards, state, and federal constituencies. The message is clear: Bauchi voters must reject blind loyalty to political parties and instead vote for leaders with character, conscience, and capacity.

At a major sensitization event held on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the renowned Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi, citizens were encouraged to participate in the ongoing INEC voter registration and revision exercise as a first step toward shaping the state’s political future.

Engineer Abubakar Abubakar, Chairman of the Movement, told this reporter that the BWNM “has changed the political ecosystem of Bauchi State by awakening the people to the realities of their sufferings and the need to vote for competence rather than party loyalty.”

Similarly, the Movement’s Secretary, Mallam Nasiru Musa, said the group’s mission “is to educate and conscientize the electorate to move away from emotive, sentiment-based voting and instead focus on identifying God-fearing, creative, and competent leaders.”

The BWNM’s message has gained wide acceptance among elites, the middle class, and the grassroots. Many believe this development marks the beginning of a new era in Bauchi politics.

Residents interviewed at the Zaranda Hotel event echoed this sentiment.
Mallam Muhammadu Sadiq Azare described Dr. Wunti as “a man with unmatched character traits—honest, hardworking, creative, and compassionate.”

For Mazi Chukwuemeka Okoroafor, a trader from Abia State who has lived in Bauchi for over three decades, Wunti’s entry into the governorship race “is a rescue mission for Bauchi State.”

Another resident, Alhaji Abdulkadir Usman from Dass, noted, “We now understand our civic responsibility better. We are no longer voting for parties; we are voting for personalities who deserve our trust.”

Dr. Wunti’s growing popularity has unsettled the major political parties, including the PDP, APC, SDP, and Labour Party. His political movement continues to expand across the state’s three senatorial districts, attracting support from people of all classes and backgrounds.

Analysts say Wunti’s electoral appeal cuts across party lines, likening his potential 2027 victory to the biblical story of David and Goliath—a triumph of character and purpose over political might.

Many also predict that his emergence would represent a seamless transition of governance—from Governor Bala Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) to another Bala—ensuring continuity of progressive leadership.

For the people of Bauchi State, the 2027 governorship election may not just be another contest; it is shaping up as a defining moment in the state’s political evolution. And at the center of it all stands Dr. Bala Wunti—the man many already regard as Bauchi’s governor-in-waiting.

Attribution:
Enyi Ejike Umunnabuike Jr
Staff Writer, The Cosmopolitan Nigeria Daily Online Newspaper
Published by The Cosmopolitan Nigeria Newspapers & Television Ltd
Tel: +234-803-589-5278 (WhatsApp/Hotline)
Email: ejikegombe@gmail.com