APC: Governor Zulum’s brother picks ticket, three lawmakers fall 

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has successfully concluded its House of Representatives primary elections in nine out of 10 federal constituencies in Borno State. While the exercise cemented the party’s grip across most districts, three incumbent lawmakers lost their re-election bids in their respective constituencies.

​The process, which was largely characterised by high-level stakeholder consensus and strategic affirmations, hit a brick wall in the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency. There, the exercise was declared inconclusive following an official protest.

​Conducted across the 27 Local Government Areas and 312 Electoral Wards of the state, the primary elections were closely monitored by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various state security agencies.

​Protest halts Askira-Uba/Hawul results amid consensus sweep

​A frontline aspirant, Comrade Audu Garba Zali, lodged a formal complaint against the process in the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency. This forced the electoral panel to put a hold on the results pending a thorough review by the APC National Appeals Committee.

​Beyond this single friction point, an analysis of the certified outcomes showed a strong preference for consensus-building among Borno APC leaders. This strategy enabled several high-profile incumbents and political heavyweights to secure their tickets without rancour.

​In the Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency, Bukar Talba emerged unopposed. Similarly, high-flying federal lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Muktar Betara Aliyu, sailed through unopposed via voice affirmation to secure the ticket for the Biu/Bayo/Kwaya/Shani constituency.

​Governor’s brother secures ticket alongside party heavyweights

​The consensus mechanism also cleared the path for five other candidates who were unanimously adopted by party delegates. Notably, Kaumi Umara Zulum—brother to the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum—clinched the APC ticket for the Dikwa/Konduga/Mafa Federal Constituency.
​Other consensus beneficiaries include Fati Kakenna Alkali Monguno for the Mobbar/Guzama/Abadam/Kukawa constituency and Usman Zana for Magumeri/Kaga/Gubio. Meanwhile, Ahmed Usman Jaha (Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa) and Satomi Ahmed (Jere) fought hard to secure their endorsements through the same mechanism.

​Conversely, where negotiations yielded to the ballot, competitive direct primaries were held in two key constituencies. In the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), incumbent lawmaker Abdulkadir Rahis comfortably retained his ticket after polling an impressive 38,576 votes. In the Bama/Ngala/Kala Balge Federal Constituency, Mustapha Abdullahi secured a definitive victory by polling 20,509 votes.

​Reviewing the entire process, the committee expressed satisfaction with the democratic threshold maintained during the exercise. It adjudged the primaries as free, fair, credible, and fully aligned with Article 20 of the APC Constitution alongside Sections 84, 86, and 87 of the Electoral Act.

​While nine constituencies are now safely locked in for the ruling party, political observers within the state are keenly watching how the National Working Committee (NWC) handles the fractured Askira-Uba/Hawul ticket.

​The successful candidates are now set to fly the party’s flag, but the exercise marked the end of the road for three incumbents. The lawmakers who lost their re-election bids were Zainab Gimba (Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge), Malam Gana Kareto (Mobbar/Guzamala/Abadam/Kukawa), and Ibrahim Abuna (Konduga/Dikwa/Mafa).