Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has praised the peaceful and orderly conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary elections across Borno State, describing the process as transparent and in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
The governor gave the commendation on Saturday after supervising the APC primary election for the Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri Federal Constituency held in Magumeri.
Hundreds of APC supporters and stakeholders from the three local government areas thronged the venue to welcome Governor Zulum and party officials overseeing the exercise.
Speaking with journalists after the primary, Zulum said the election was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the APC constitution, which recognises consensus arrangements among aspirants.
According to him, although three aspirants initially indicated interest in contesting for the party’s House of Representatives ticket, two later stepped down in support of the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Usman Zannah.
The governor said the consensus arrangement reflected unity and internal democracy within the party, noting that party members and stakeholders overwhelmingly endorsed Zannah as the consensus candidate.
He congratulated the lawmaker on his emergence and commended the aspirants who withdrew from the race — Hon. Shettima Shehu and Alhaji Mohammed Sanda Ngamdu — for demonstrating political maturity, sacrifice and commitment to party cohesion.
Zulum also appreciated APC supporters and residents of the state for ensuring a peaceful process throughout the exercise.
The governor stressed that the consensus option adopted by the party was voluntary and did not prevent any aspirant from participating in a direct primary election.
Chairman of the APC Primary Elections Committee for the constituency, Hon. Yuguda Saleh Vungas, confirmed that party stakeholders unanimously agreed to adopt consensus as the mode of primary election.
He further commended Governor Zulum for providing an enabling environment for the successful and peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Through a voice vote, APC members from Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri local government areas unanimously affirmed Hon. Usman Zannah as the party’s consensus candidate for the House of Representatives seat.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC national headquarters monitored the primary election.
Governor Zulum was accompanied by the APC consensus gubernatorial candidate, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, Secretary to the State Government Bukar Tijani, and Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe.
