Wali Secures APC Governorship Ticket in Yobe

The former Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Malam Wali, has clinched the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 general elections.

Wali emerged victorious in the party’s primary election held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Damaturu, defeating several other aspirants.

Announcing the final result, the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Muttaqah Darma, stated that the exercise complied fully with the party’s constitution and guidelines. He declared Wali the winner after he scored the highest number of valid votes.

According to the official figures, Wali polled 236,711 votes, while his closest rival, Dr. Abubakar Bukar Kagu, secured 9,748 votes. Other aspirants recorded much lower figures, including Bashir Sheriff Machina with 1,894 votes and Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja with 1,178 votes.

Wali, who hails from Nguru Local Government Area in Yobe North Senatorial District, had previously been adopted as the consensus candidate during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam.

His victory is expected to intensify calls for the governorship position to rotate to Yobe North, a district that has not produced a governor or deputy governor since the state was created in 1991.

Born in 1958, Wali is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earnedboth bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He began his public service career at the Chad Basin Development Authority before moving to the Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery as a social mobilisation officer.

He later served as permanent secretary in several ministries and eventually became 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.