After almost 19 years in the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, may not have it easy going back to the green chamber.
A strong challenger has emerged courtesy of the prompting of the people of the constituent, asking Ndume to step aside.
As it stands, there seem to be a consensus among the electorate from the senatorial district that a change should be effected as Ndume had overstayed.
Ndume had represented part of his present constituency as a member of the House of Representatives (Gwoza-Damboa-Chibok) between 2003 and 2011, and as a senator from 2011 to date.
The elite, youths, women, opinion leaders, and religious leaders have reached a consensus on the need for a change and seeking an all-inclusive and fair representation.
The people have resolved that Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwah should pick the senatorial ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Durkwah had challenged the present Governor of Borno, Prof. Baba Gana Zulum, in the governorship primary in 2019.
Durkwah rose to the high echelon of the Nigerian highly competitive and bureaucratic Federal Civil Service Structure due to hard work, knowledge, resilience, and integrity.
He left federal service as the Director of Finance in the federal ministries of Agriculture, Finance, and Health and also traversed the private and public sectors with excellence and distinction.
He was also Deputy Director (Accounts), State House; Assistant Director (Accounts), Office of the Vice – President; Director (Finance), Federal Super phosphate Fertilizer Co. Ltd, Kaduna; and Financial Controller, Federal Capital Territory Agricultural Development Project.
The technocrat has been in the private sector, with his experiences as Senior Partner, AKIN, IDRIS, and Company and down the lane, a Financial Adviser, Forestry Management Environmental and Coordinating Unit; Acting Financial Controller, Afforestation Project Coordinating Unit; and Principal Accountant, Forestry Management Environment and Coordinating Unit.
Borno Youth and Students Discussion (BYSD-Forum), an NGO which had in 2019 advised Ndume against seeking further election at the Borno South Senatorial District is insisting on political power shift in the zone.
At a summit held in Maiduguri recently, the Forum agreed on the need to change the political structuring that restricted certain elective offices to particular zones or local governments.
