Former Executive Director of Finance at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Alhaji Ahmed Isa Dutse, has formally declared his intention to contest for the Jigawa Central Senatorial District seat under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Dutse, a retired public servant and veteran auditor, said his decision to enter partisan politics was driven by his desire to bring his experience in public service into political representation and contribute to addressing challenges affecting communities across the senatorial district.
His entry into politics marks a transition from a decades-long public service career in auditing and financial management to active political participation.
Dutse began his professional career in the Jigawa State public service in 1988 before joining the power sector in 1997 as an internal auditor with the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
He subsequently rose through various positions in the power sector, building a career focused largely on financial management, auditing and public-sector administration.
In 2020, Dutse was appointed by the Federal Government to the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, where he later served as Executive Director of Finance. He remained in the position until his retirement from public service in December 2023.
Following his retirement, Dutse turned his attention to politics, joining the ADC and seeking the party's platform to contest the Jigawa Central, also known as Jigawa South-West, senatorial seat.
Explaining his decision to seek elective office, Dutse said his experience in public service exposed him to some of the challenges associated with the management and delivery of public resources.
He said he was particularly concerned about difficulties faced by citizens in accessing basic services such as education, healthcare, water and security.
According to him, political representation should provide an avenue for citizens' concerns to be articulated and for public institutions to be held accountable for delivering services.
Dutse has identified agriculture, education and healthcare among the areas he intends to prioritise if elected.
On agriculture, he said there was a need to improve farming practices and access to agricultural inputs, while in education he proposed greater attention to quality learning opportunities, particularly in rural communities.
He also said improved healthcare infrastructure was necessary to reduce the financial burden placed on families seeking medical treatment.
Dutse has also begun political engagements across the senatorial district as part of efforts to familiarise himself with constituents and communicate his political agenda.
While criticising the performance of successive representatives in the district, he said voters should assess candidates based on their records, capacity and commitment to public service rather than relying solely on party affiliation.
He also rejected the argument that Jigawa Central should be regarded as permanently aligned to any political party, saying voters have the right to make their choices based on prevailing circumstances and the records of candidates.
Dutse urged constituents in the senatorial district to scrutinise the backgrounds, experience and programmes of all candidates ahead of the election.
He said his transition from public service to politics was intended to provide him with an opportunity to apply his professional experience to legislative representation and advocacy for the people of Jigawa Central.