2027: APC’ll hold direct primaries if consensus fails — Buni

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has said the All Progressives Congress, APC, will conduct direct primary elections ahead of the 2027 general election if party members fail to agree on consensus candidates.

Buni made this known in a statement released on Sunday in Damaturu by his Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, following disagreements among APC governorship aspirants in Yobe State.

The development came after six governorship aspirants rejected the endorsement of Baba Wali as the preferred candidate of party stakeholders in the state. The aspirants included Senator Ibrahim Bomoi, Bashir Machina, Kashim Musa-Tumsah, Mustapha Maihaja, Lawan Kolo and retired Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Baba.

According to Buni, the APC had not ruled out any method of selecting candidates and would switch to direct primaries if consensus arrangements failed. He explained that Baba Wali emerged after a meeting involving key party stakeholders held on April 23, 2026.

The governor recalled that he also faced a similar situation in 2019 when some aspirants rejected his consensus nomination, leading to an election where he later emerged as the party’s candidate.

Buni said the party leadership was still engaging aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders in discussions aimed at maintaining peace and unity within the APC before the primaries.

He added that his priority remained the stability of the party and the unity of members across Yobe State. He said all aspirants remained members of the same political family and should work together for the success of the party in the next general election.

The governor described Yobe as a state known for peaceful politics and internal democracy, adding that the APC would continue to promote fairness in its political process.

Buni also said the ambitions of the aspirants were driven by a desire to serve the people and improve living conditions in the state. He assured party members that everyone would be carried along regardless of who eventually emerged as the APC candidate.

He further called on party supporters to remain united and mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid as well as APC candidates contesting governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly seats in the 2027 elections.