Yobe APC gov aspirants reject consensus candidate, demand direct primaries

Three governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe State have faulted the emergence of Baba Malam Wali as the party’s consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election, insisting on transparent primary elections.

The dissatisfied aspirants include former Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Maihaja; ex-lawmaker Bashir Machina; and Kashim Musa Tumsah.

The aspirants argued that any attempt to impose a candidate on party members would violate the provisions of the Electoral Act and the APC constitution.

Speaking in Damaturu on Sunday on behalf of the group known as G-3, Tumsah said the consensus arrangement being promoted within the party did not follow due process.

According to him, the group was determined to ensure that democratic procedures were respected in selecting the party’s governorship flag bearer.

“The issue of consensus has not been properly handled. Since the laid-down process was not followed, we believe the arrangement has failed,” Tumsah said.

He added that the aspirants were entitled to demand direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act and APC guidelines.

Tumsah accused some party stakeholders of attempting to impose a candidate instead of allowing members to decide freely through voting.

What we want is a transparent exercise where APC members will vote and choose the candidate themselves.

“We will not accept a situation where election results are allegedly written without any real voting process taking place. The law guiding direct primaries must be respected,” he said.

The aspirant warned that the group could challenge the outcome of the exercise if the party leadership failed to ensure fairness and compliance with electoral regulations.

He, however, pledged that the group would support whoever emerged through a credible process.

“If a candidate emerges through a free and fair primary election, we will support him and work for the success of the party in the general election,” he added.

Also speaking, Machina urged APC supporters in the state to reject what he described as attempts to handpick candidates without proper consultation.

He argued that candidates produced through endorsements by a few influential figures, rather than democratic participation, might not protect the interests of the people of Yobe State.