By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has urged aspirants contesting elective positions under the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace consensus arrangements as the preferred approach for the party’s primary elections in the state.
The APC primaries are scheduled to begin on Friday, May 15, with the House of Representatives primaries, and conclude on Saturday, May 23, with the presidential primary election.
Governor Zulum made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri, where party leaders and stakeholders gathered to deliberate on preparations for the forthcoming primaries.
Addressing the gathering, the governor said consensus remained the most effective strategy for preserving party unity and cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He commended party stakeholders for their continued support and commitment to the APC administration in Borno State.
“As we prepare for the party primaries, I want to encourage all aspirants seeking various elective offices to consider consensus as the most suitable option for our party in Borno State. However, where consensus is not achievable, the party will proceed with direct primaries,” Zulum stated.
The governor also reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles, assuring party members that no candidate would be imposed on any constituency.
According to him, consultations among stakeholders should continue to ensure the emergence of widely accepted candidates across the state.
Governor Zulum advised aspirants to remain loyal to the party irrespective of the outcome of the primaries, noting that political opportunities would continue to emerge in the future.
He further disclosed that aspirants who voluntarily withdraw from contests in the interest of consensus arrangements would be considered for appointments and other opportunities at both the state and federal levels.
To facilitate consultations and reconciliation efforts across the state, the governor constituted zonal consultative committees for the three senatorial districts.
The committees are to be headed by Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur for the Southern Zone, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori for the Central Zone, and Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno for the Northern Zone.
During the meeting, Governor Zulum also formally presented Engr. Mustapha Gubio as the APC consensus governorship candidate, in fulfillment of an earlier commitment made at a previous stakeholders’ meeting held on April 25.
Speaking at the meeting, Ali Bukar Dalori and the APC State Chairman, Hon. Bello Ayuba, both reiterated the importance of consensus in strengthening party unity and reducing internal divisions ahead of the elections.
The stakeholders’ meeting attracted several prominent figures within the party, including former Governor Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan, Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Kaka Shehu Lawan, members of the National and State Assemblies, local government chairmen, party executives, commissioners-designate, special advisers, and other APC stakeholders across the state.
