The race for the 2027 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe State appears to be heading toward a direct primary election following growing disagreements among leading aspirants over the emergence of a proposed consensus candidate.
Political tensions reportedly escalated after the endorsement of Mallam Wali by influential party stakeholders, including Ibrahim Gaidam and Mai Mala Buni.
However, the endorsement has not gone down well with several aspirants who believe the process failed to satisfy the provisions guiding consensus candidacy under the Electoral Act.
The aggrieved aspirants — Usman Alkali Baba, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, Lawan Kolo Geidam, Kashim Musa Tumsah and Bashir Sheriff Machina — reportedly signed an agreement insisting that the conditions required for adopting a consensus candidate were not met.
Sources within the party disclosed that multiple reconciliation meetings were held in an attempt to convince the dissatisfied aspirants to support the endorsed candidate, but the efforts ended without a breakthrough. Some of the contenders reportedly feel sidelined and politically marginalized by the process leading to the endorsement.
Insiders further revealed that Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai is currently weighing strategic political options, including a possible alliance with Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina. Political observers within the state reportedly view such a combination as a potentially formidable force capable of challenging the party’s anointed candidate should the contest proceed to a direct primary election.
Efforts to persuade Bomai to step down in support of the endorsed candidate were also said to have failed. Sources claimed that Kashim Shettima, alongside Mallam Wali Shettima, visited Bomai at his residence in the presence of his mother in a last-minute move aimed at convincing him to withdraw from the race.
However, party insiders said Bomai declined the request and has continued consultations with fellow aspirants at his residence as discussions over the future of the governorship contest intensify.
With negotiations yielding little progress, indications suggest the ruling party in Yobe State may ultimately resort to direct primaries to determine its flag bearer for the 2027 gubernatorial election. Political analysts believe such a move could open up the contest and test the strength, structure, and grassroots influence of all the major contenders within the party.
