BORNNO State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has revealed that he turned down pressure from supporters, friends and family members urging him to contest for a Senate seat in the 2027 general elections, saying he chose party unity and cohesion over personal political ambition.
News Point Nigeria reports that Zulum made the disclosure while chairing the Borno State Critical Stakeholders Meeting of the All Progressives Congress in Maiduguri ahead of the House of Representatives primary election scheduled for Thursday.
“Despite the overwhelming pressure from supporters and people close to me, I chose the party unity and cohesion over my personal ambition. I told them that I’m not vying for the Senate to maintain cordial relationships and allow peace to reign,” the governor said.
The governor, who pushed for a final consensus arrangement instead of direct primaries among the contending aspirants, urged party members and aspirants to emulate his approach in the interest of unity.
He, however, stressed that the party should allow primary elections in constituencies where aspirants reject the consensus arrangement.
“As a democrat, I will not force any candidate on a particular constituency, but rather encourage us to continue consultations with stakeholders for consensus candidates to emerge,” Zulum stated.
The stakeholders’ meeting, attended by key figures of the party in the state, insisted on making a final push for consensus candidates in order to prevent internal divisions within the APC.
Speaking at the meeting, the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, said consensus arrangements help promote inclusion and reduce disputes among party members.
“We don’t want to have problems in Borno, Northeast and the North. With consensus, we will give the party bloc votes, better than what was produced during the 2023 general election,” he said.
Dalori also commended party leaders and stakeholders for their sacrifices and sportsmanship.
“We must thank God and appreciate the sacrifices of our leaders for the sportsmanship. And, I want you to be ready to reason with them, and everyone to accept the outcome of the consensus,” he added.
Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Borno State, Bello Ayuba, said the party had largely settled for consensus as its preferred option for resolving the contest among aspirants.
He urged all aspirants to accept the outcome of the process in good faith.
“It’s God that gives power to whom he wishes and retrieves it from him at will. Borno politics has always been a unique one, and we should do our best to maintain status quo,” he said.
Ayuba also commended some serving members of the State House of Assembly, including the Deputy Speaker, for deciding not to seek re-election in the interest of party cohesion.
“I want to thank people like the current deputy speaker, Hon Abdullahi Askira, Member Mohammed Zakaria of Dikwa, member Baba Mala Bukar Sunoma, and Hon Mustapha Alone of Kaga,” he said.