Weeks After Retirement, Immediate Past IGP, Usman Baba Alkali, Is Running For Senate Under APC (Campaign Poster)

Campaign posters of the immediate former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, running for senatorial office under the ruling All Progressives Congress, to represent Yobe East Senatorial District in the forthcoming by-elections, are trending online.

But Newsmen could not confirm the veracity of the development, as sources close to Baba didn’t respond to inquiries, and the retired police chief could not be reached by our correspondent on Sunday.

However, if true, Baba may likely replace incumbent senator Ibrahim Gaidam, who is expected to resign and vacate the seat following his ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu and his subsequent confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Baba retired from the Nigeria Police Force on June 20, 2023, following a major shake-up of the nation’s security architecture with the immediate retirement of all the service chiefs by President Tinubu.

Baba was enlisted in the NPF on March 15, 1988, and later became an assistant superintendent of police, before he was promoted to Commissioner of Police in January 2013. He served in the Federal Capital Territory as the Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and at the Staff College as a Directing Staff.

He served in Kaduna as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration and Assistant Commissioner, Criminal Investigation Department, and in Ilorin as an Area Commander. His career had taken him to many parts of the country, having served in Kaduna, Yola, Jos and Gombe and others.

Baba was a former Assistant IGP, Zone 5, in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States. He is a fellow of the International War College and a member of the International Association of Police.

For his service to the nation, he was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic by former President Muhammadu Buhari.