Baba Malam Wali, the immediate past secretary to the Yobe State government, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election.

Muttaqha Darma, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development and the returning officer of the election, announced the results in Damaturu on Friday.

He said Wali polled 236,711 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Dr Abubakar Kagu, who scored 9,748 votes.

Mr Darma said Bashir Machina, polled 1,894 votes; Yunusa Mustapha, 1,178 votes; Hamidu Alhaji, 1,722 votes; while Yunusa Mohammed and Maaji Modu polled 1,148 and 1,372 votes, respectively.

“That Baba Malam Wali, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner of the primary election and returned elected as the party’s governorship candidate for Yobe,” the returning officer said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Wali thanked Governor Mai Mala Buni, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, the Minister of Police Affairs and former governor of the state, and the party leadership for their overwhelming support.

He called on his six opponents to give him their support and cooperation in the interest of the socioeconomic development of the state.

He pledged to continue the legacy projects and programmes of Messrs Buni and Geidam, whom he described as his mentors.

Mr Wali also assured the APC that he would ensure that all the party’s candidates emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections. 

(NAN)