Six All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates have unanimously rejected the reported adoption of former Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Alh. Baba Mallam Wali, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for Yobe State, insisting that only a free and fair primary election will suffice for them.
They expressed their views in a statement issued following a meeting in Abuja on Thursday to discuss topics of mutual concern.
Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, Senator of Yobe South; Bashir Sheriff Machina, Former Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council; and Kashim Musa Tumsah, Former NNPCL Board Member.
Others include Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, former NEMA DG; Lawan Kolo Geidam, former Mandate Secretary, Youths and Sports, FCT; and IGP Mohammed Alkali Baba, former Inspector-General of Police, all of whom unanimously described Wali’s adoption as a violation of the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.
Part of the statement read: “That the purported endorsement of a specific candidate as the APC gubernatorial consensus candidate does not comply with the general requirements and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC Constitution and is thus unacceptable.”
“That the relevant sections of the Electoral Act relating to consensus should be carefully followed to ensure the emergence of an acceptable and credible APC gubernatorial candidate in Yobe State.
“That, failing an agreement on consensus, there should be free, fair, transparent and credible direct primaries in line with the APC guidelines on direct primaries.”
The candidates maintained that Baba Wali was not chosen as the consensus candidate in accordance with established regulations, stating that if consensus is to be a possibility, it must meet the general standards and restrictions of the relevant legislation.