By Adamu Yahaya
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has assured members of the All Progressives Congress that the party would conduct fair, credible and transparent primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections if consensus arrangements fail.
The governor said the APC had not ruled out direct primaries to produce candidates for elective positions in the state.
Buni stated this in a statement issued on Sunday by his Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Mohammed Mamman.
According to the governor, the emergence of Baba Mallam Wali as the party’s preferred governorship candidate followed resolutions reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held on April 23, 2026.
He, however, noted that the party was prepared to adopt an election process should consensus not be achieved among stakeholders and aspirants.
Buni recalled that he emerged as the APC governorship candidate through a similar process in 2019 after some aspirants challenged an earlier consensus arrangement.
He explained that consultations were still ongoing with party stakeholders and aspirants to ensure an amicable resolution that would strengthen party unity ahead of the elections.
The governor stressed that maintaining peace and cohesion within the APC remained a top priority, adding that all members should work collectively for the party’s success in 2027.
“As a founding member, former National Secretary and former National Chairman of the APC, the unity and progress of the party are very important to me,” he said.
Buni also described Yobe as a model of internal democracy and political transparency, pledging that the state chapter of the party would continue to uphold participatory democratic principles.
He urged party members to remain united and mobilise support for the APC and the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, two prominent APC members in the state, former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, and Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, have obtained nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the governorship seat.
The duo are reportedly pushing for direct primary elections to challenge Baba Mallam Wali, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, who was endorsed as the party’s preferred candidate.
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