Yobe APC: G-3 Aspirants Reject Consensus, Demand Direct Primary

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

Three governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State have rejected the proposed consensus arrangement and demanded the conduct of a direct primary election ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

The aspirants, who addressed journalists in Damaturu, warned that the imposition of any candidate would violate both the APC constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act.

The trio, Barrister Kashim Musa Tumsah, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, and Bashir Sheriff Machina, also confirmed that their coalition, formerly known as the G-6, has now been reduced to G-3.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Tumsah said the much-publicised consensus arrangement was never unanimously agreed upon.

“We are here to state clearly that the so-called unanimous consensus was never achieved,” he said.

“The consensus exercise was not completed as required. It failed, and we are now exercising our right to demand a direct primary, as provided for in the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.”

The aspirants called on the national leadership of the APC to ensure strict adherence to the rules guiding the conduct of direct primaries.

“To get it right, the Electoral Act must be obeyed. Even the consensus they are talking about lacked due process; it appeared forced and pre-determined,” the group stated.

“We will reject any process built on manipulated results, cancelled voting, or the denial of party members’ right to choose their candidate.”

In what appeared to be a new political development, the trio disclosed that they had agreed to support a single candidate for the general election, although they declined to reveal the person’s identity.

“We are standing together, and we will support him to win the general election. Nothing short of that is acceptable, and we want it clearly understood that this mission must be pursued to the end,” they added.