Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has applauded the peaceful and orderly conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the House of Representatives across the state.
The governor made the commendation on Saturday in an interview with newsmen shortly after supervising the APC primary election for Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri Federal Constituency, in Magumeri town.
Hundreds of party supporters from the three local government areas thronged the venue of the primaries to welcome the governor and other APC officials for the conduct of the exercise.
“We are here to witness the primary election in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC constitution, which allows for consensus arrangements among aspirants.,” Zulum stated.
The governor explained that three aspirants initially indicated interest to contest for the House of Representatives ticket, but two later stepped down in support of the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Usman Zannah.
“We have three contestants vying for the position of the House of Representatives, but fortunately, under the consensus arrangement as enshrined in the constitution of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), two of the aspirants stepped down for the incumbent member, Hon. Usman Zannah,” he said.
“We are here, and the people of the three local government areas have affirmed their support for the consensus candidate,” the governor noted.
He congratulated Hon. Zannah on his emergence and commended the aspirants who stepped down, Hon. Shettima Shehu and Alhaji Mohammed Sanda Ngamdu, describing their action as a demonstration of party unity and political maturity.
“I want to extend my congratulations to the candidate and the others who stepped down for him,” Zulum said. “I also want to express my appreciation to all APC supporters and the people of Borno State for ensuring a peaceful voting process.”
The governor further stressed that APC’s consensus arrangement was voluntary and not intended to deny anyone the right to contest.
“Under the consensus arrangement, the government of Borno State and the party have never taken a decision to stop anybody from contesting,” he explained. “Consensus is a voluntary option, and anybody who does not wish to go for a consensus election has the right to participate in a direct primary.”
Chairman APC Primary Elections Committee for Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri Federal Constituency, Hon. Yuguda Saleh Vungas, confirmed that stakeholders and members of the party have adopted consensus as the mode of primary.
He commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the exercise.
Through the voice vote, APC members from the three local governments unanimously affirmed Hon. Usman Zamna as the consensus candidate. The exercise was attended by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC officials and APC officials from the national headquarters.
Governor Babagana Zulum was accompanied by the APC consensus gubernatorial candidate, Engr. Mustapha Gubio; Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani and the acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe