Governor Mai Mala Buni has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State is ready to conduct credible direct primaries if a unified agreement on a consensus governorship candidate is not reached.
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has reaffirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC) commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent primary elections should the party fail to secure a consensus for its 2027 candidates.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, Buni clarified that while a preferred candidate has been identified, the door remains open for a direct electoral contest.
The Governor’s remarks follow the formal rejection of Alhaji Baba Wali – the candidate endorsed by party stakeholders on April 23 – by six prominent governorship aspirants.
The aggrieved group, which includes Senator Ibrahim Bomoi, Alhaji Bashir Machina, and former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Baba, among others, has demanded the conduct of a credible direct primary to determine the party’s flagbearer.
Buni, a former National Chairman of the APC, noted that the party has not foreclosed any election mode. He drew parallels to his own political journey to emphasize the party’s capacity for internal democracy. “In 2019, I was nominated as a consensus candidate, but when a few aspirants contested that decision, we proceeded to an election where I emerged victorious by a wide margin,” Buni recalled. “We are ready to repeat that history if we cannot reach a general agreement.”
Despite the friction, the Governor emphasized that the party is actively engaging in dialogue with the dissatisfied aspirants to reach an amicable resolution. He stressed that his primary goal is to ensure the state remains peaceful and that the APC enters the 2027 general elections as a united front.
Governor Buni described Yobe as a leading example of political transparency and internal democracy. He urged all members to uphold the principles of “politics without bitterness” and to prioritize the collective success of the party over individual ambitions.
“The unity and progress of the party mean so much to me personally,” Buni stated. “I will continue to support and protect the ideals of the party to remain Nigeria’s ruling political party.”
He concluded by calling on members to generate more support for the party to ensure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid and all other APC candidates across the state.
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