In a significant political development, the former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has been affirmed as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Borno South senatorial election scheduled for 2027. This announcement came in a statement issued on Monday, after Ndume was returned unopposed via an affirmation process during the party’s primary held in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
Ndume’s emergence as the consensus candidate followed the voluntary withdrawal of his primary challenger, Abdullahi Askira, the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly. Askira stepped down last month after extensive consultations and appeals from party leaders within the district, prioritizing party unity over personal ambition.
With this ticket, Ndume is poised for a potential fifth term in the National Assembly if he wins the 2027 general elections. The lawmaker expressed gratitude to APC stakeholders, delegates, and party faithful in Borno South for their trust in him to continue representing their interests. He specifically commended Askira for his loyalty and decision to drop his aspiration in deference to the party’s leadership.
Ndume stated, ‘I want to thank our elders in the Borno South Senatorial District for their unwavering support. I assure them that I will always promote their interests. I must commend Hon. Askira, who heeded the appeals of party leaders and stepped down. His loyalty is exemplary.’ He also called for continued unity and collaboration among party members as Nigeria gears up for the general elections.