DAMATURU, NIGERIA – In a highly anticipated political development in northeastern Nigeria, the immediate past Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Alhaji Baba Malam Wali, has emerged as the official governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 general elections. Wali secured the ruling party’s ticket after scoring a commanding victory over six other contenders during the APC governorship primary election held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Damaturu.
Announcing the certified results to party stalwarts, electoral observers, and journalists, the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Muttaqah Darma, stated that the exercise was executed in strict accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution and internal guidelines. Darma affirmed that the process was transparent and keenly contested despite the wide margin in the final numbers.
“I wish to therefore declare that Baba Malam Wali, having satisfied the requirements of APC Constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner of the primary election and is therefore returned elected as the party's governorship candidate for Yobe State,” Darma declared.
According to the official data released by the electoral committee, Wali demonstrated massive structural dominance by polling an overwhelming 236,711 votes. His closest challenger, Dr. Abubakar Bukar Kagu, trailed at a distant second place with 9,748 votes.
The remaining five aspirants recorded much lower figures, reflecting the highly unified stance of the main party organs behind Wali's candidacy:
* Bashir Sheriff Machina: 1,894 votes
* Hamidu Alhaji Muhammad: 1,722 votes
* Ma’aji Modu: 1,371 votes
* Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja: 1,178 votes
* Inusa Muhammad: 1,148 votes
Wali, who hails from Nguru Local Government Area within the Yobe North Senatorial District, had earlier been positioned as the party’s consensus choice during an extensive stakeholders’ consultative meeting. That critical preliminary meeting was convened and moderated by the Minister of Police Affairs and former Governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Geidam. While a few aspirants initially expressed reservations and pushed for an open ballot, the direct primary election ultimately validated Wali's consensus status with a sweeping grassroots turnout.
The formal emergence of Baba Malam Wali has significant geopolitical implications for the state. His candidacy is expected to give a massive boost to long-standing agitations for the governorship seat to permanently shift to the Yobe North Senatorial Zone. Remarkably, the zone has not produced a sitting governor or a deputy governor since Yobe State was carved out of the old Borno State in 1991. Party strategist believe his ticket will unify the various regional blocs ahead of the general election.
Born in 1958, Wali boasts a long and distinguished career within the academic and public service sectors. He attended the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he successfully obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He kicked off his public service career at the Chad Basin Development Authority before transitioning to the Directorate for Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery, where he served diligently as a social mobilisation officer.
Wali subsequently climbed through the administrative ranks of the core civil service, serving as a permanent secretary in several key ministries before his eventual elevation to the position of Secretary to the State Government. He held the critical administrative post across successive administrations, serving under both Senator Ibrahim Geidam and the current Governor, Mai Mala Buni. His exceptional institutional stability earned him national recognition in March, when the Progressive Governors Forum formally honored him as Nigeria’s longest-serving Secretary to a State Government.
Accepting the nomination after receiving his certificate of return, Wali expressed deep appreciation to Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, the Yobe APC executive committee, and the countless party loyalists for the immense confidence reposed in his administrative capability. He noted that his mentors had laid an irreplaceable foundation for sustainable development in the state, promising to consolidate their legacy projects if elected.
Extending an immediate hand of fellowship to his six primary opponents and those who had stepped down during the consultative phases, the newly minted candidate urged all camps to put aside the frictions of the primary season. Wali emphasized that the internal contest was officially over, calling on all party members to forge a completely united front capable of delivering a total victory for the APC across all electoral levels in the 2027 general elections.
