According to a report by the Punch on Friday, May 1, 2026, divisions have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State following the adoption of former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Malam Wali, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election.….....
The decision was taken by the party’s Critical Stakeholders’ Forum led by Governor Mai Mala Buni and Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Gaidam after a high-level meeting aimed at unifying the party’s structure ahead of the polls. The forum described Wali as a competent and experienced figure capable of leading the state effectively, noting that the consensus arrangement was intended to strengthen internal cohesion within the APC.
However, the endorsement has triggered opposition from two frontline governorship aspirants, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai and Kashim Musa Tumsa, who both rejected the outcome of the selection process. Bomai faulted the method used in arriving at Wali’s adoption, arguing that it sidelines internal democracy and excludes the broader will of party members. He maintained that leadership selection should be based on transparency, fairness, and open competition rather than decisions reached by a select group of political actors.
Tumsa also expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement, insisting that the process did not adequately reflect consultation across all party structures. His camp maintained that the decision appeared to favour imposition over internal consensus building, warning that such actions could deepen mistrust within the party if not properly managed.
In contrast, former Senate President Ahmad Lawan aligned with the party’s leadership decision, calling for unity and discipline among members. He urged stakeholders and supporters to accept the outcome in good faith and focus on strengthening the party ahead of the general elections.
Lawan emphasized the need for stability within the APC, especially as the party works to maintain its political dominance in the state. He encouraged aggrieved members to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation rather than division, stressing that unity would be crucial to electoral success.
He further appealed to party loyalists, saying: “I charge you to return to your wards with a message of calm”
