Yobe APC Guber Aspirants Reject Consensus Candidacy, Want Free, Transparent Primaries

By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu

Yobe State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirants, Thursday, 7th May, 2026 in Abuja, convened to address crucial issues affecting the party and people of Yobe State.

The meeting ended with a unanimous resolution rejecting what they termed as the “so-called endorsement of a single candidate as the party’s gubernatorial consensus choice”.

The particular revolting aspirants include Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, representing Yobe South, Barrister Kashim Musa Tumsah, former board member of the NNPC, Bashir Sheriff Machina, former Chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council,

Others are Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, former NEMA DG, Lawan Kolo Geidam, former Mandate Secretary, Youths and Sports, FCT, and IGP Usman Alkali Baba, former Inspector-General of Police.

The aspirants expressed concerns regarding the purported endorsement of a candidate, deeming it incompatible with the provisions outlined in the Electoral Act of 2026 and the APC Constitution respectively.

According to them, the strict adherence to the relevant provisions of the act is essential to ensure a credible candidate emerges for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The aspirants insisted that if a consensus could not be reached, the party must conduct a direct primary that is free, fair, and transparent, adhering to APC guidelines as prepared.

Their main points of discussions at the meeting was a critique of the Yobe State APC Chairman, whose perceived partisanship raised alarm among the aspirants as they said.

The aspirants asserted that the chairman’s compromised position undermines the integrity of the upcoming primary election.

As a result, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of the chairman from any involvement in the conduct and supervision of the state primary election.

The aspirants unreservedly restated their commitment to the national leadership of APC and their support for the mandate and re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2027 presidential election.

Finally the meeting concluded with a strong collective voice, reflecting the aspirants’ commitment to ensuring a fair political process for the people of Yobe State at large.