Governor Mai Mala Buni has stated that the Yobe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress remains committed to transparent primaries ahead of the 2027 elections. The governor said the party would adopt a fair and credible electoral process if consensus efforts among stakeholders fail. His remarks come amid growing political consultations surrounding governorship succession and internal party arrangements within the state.
The discussion followed the endorsement of Baba Mallam Wali as the preferred governorship candidate by critical APC stakeholders during a meeting held on April 23, 2026. While party leaders initially adopted consensus arrangements, some aspirants opposed the decision and demanded direct primaries instead.
Governor Buni explained that the APC had not ruled out elections as a democratic option for selecting candidates. According to him, the party remains focused on dialogue and reconciliation among aspirants and stakeholders before reaching a final decision. The governor added that the state chapter had historically combined consensus-building with democratic competition when necessary.
Buni referenced the 2019 governorship process, where he emerged as consensus candidate before some aspirants challenged the arrangement through internal elections. He said the experience demonstrated that the party could still maintain unity through transparent primaries where consensus proves difficult.
Speaking through a statement issued by his Director General of Press and Media Affairs, Mallam Mohammed Mamman, the governor emphasized that the APC remained open to all constitutional options. He said the party’s objective was to maintain peace, unity, and internal democracy throughout the selection process.
Buni stated: “If there is no general agreement, we shall adopt the election mode.” He also stressed that ongoing consultations aimed to produce amicable solutions acceptable to all party stakeholders.
The governor further described Yobe as a model for participatory democracy and political stability. According to him, maintaining transparent primaries and peaceful political engagement remains important for preserving unity within the party and the state.
Two prominent APC members, former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali and Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, have reportedly obtained nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the governorship position. Both aspirants are advocating direct primaries following the earlier endorsement of Baba Mallam Wali.
The development highlights increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 election cycle across northern Nigeria. Internal party management, consensus arrangements, and candidate selection processes are expected to shape broader electoral outcomes in several states.
Political analysts note that internal disputes often influence voter confidence and party cohesion before general elections. Maintaining transparent primaries could therefore strengthen credibility and reduce post-primary tensions among party members and supporters.
For governance and development planning, stable internal political processes remain critical to continuity in infrastructure, security, and economic policies. Yobe State has continued rebuilding efforts following years of insurgency-related disruption under successive administrations.
Observers also believe the APC’s handling of internal democracy in Yobe may influence wider political perceptions across the North-East region ahead of 2027.
