Wali wins APC governorship ticket in Yobe

Former Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Malam Wali, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.

Wali secured the APC ticket after defeating other aspirants in the party’s governorship primary election held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Damaturu.

Announcing the result, the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Muttaqah Darma, said the exercise was conducted in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines.

‎‎“I therefore declare Baba Malam Wali, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, as the winner of the primary election and the party’s governorship candidate for Yobe State,” Darma said.

According to the results announced by the committee, Wali polled 236,711 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dr Abubakar Bukar Kagu, who scored 9,748 votes.

Other aspirants recorded lower votes, with Bashir Sheriff Machina polling 1,894 votes, Engr Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja securing 1,178 votes, Hamidu Alhaji Muhammad scoring 1,722 votes, Inusa Muhammad recording 1,148 votes, while Ma’aji Modu polled 1,371 votes.

Wali, from Nguru Local Government Area in Yobe North Senatorial District, had earlier emerged as the consensus candidate of the party following a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam.

His emergence is expected to strengthen calls for the governorship to shift to Yobe North, which has yet to produce either a governor or deputy governor since the creation of the state in 1991.

Born in 1958, Wali attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

He began his public service career at the Chad Basin Development Authority before joining the Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery as a social mobilisation officer.

He later served in different capacities in the civil service, including as permanent secretary in several ministries and Secretary to the State Government under former governors Ibrahim Geidam and Mai Mala Buni.

In March, the Progressive Governors Forum recognised him as Nigeria’s longest-serving Secretary to a State Government.