Yobe East Senator backs out of governorship, senatorial race
The Senator representing Yobe East Senatorial District, Senator Musa Mustapha has announced his withdrawal from the contest for the governorship and senatorial tickets under the APC.
He said in a statement on Thursday that the decision was in deference to the decision of the party to support Baba Mallam Wali as the party’s preferred governorship candidate and Governor Mai Mala Buni as candidate for Yobe East Senatorial seat.
Wali has resigned as the Secretary to the State Government to pursue his governorship ambition.
Buni, on the other hand will conclude his last term as governor and has been publicly endorsed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders in the state to replace Mustapha at the Senate.
Already, political and public officers from the zone have purchased Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the governor.
The Chairman of the state critical stakeholders forum, a former Governor and current Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has commended the endorsment and purchase of the forms for Gov. Buni to run for the Senatorial seat.
Senator Musa Bello, who had indicated interest to contest for Governor, was however not favoured by the party leaders.
He recalled that on April 23, 2026, during the Yobe APC Critical Stakeholders’ Forum Meeting, “we unanimously made commitment that we would support whoever our leaders present as their preferred governorship candidate. In doing so, I was fully aware of the weight of my commitment and I was determined to abide by whatever decision they arrived at since I have absolute trust in their sense of judgement.
“To exercise the spirit of integrity and responsibility, I hereby formally withdraw from the contest for the APC gubernatorial ticket.
“Additionally, and to make it explicitly clear, I am not contesting for the senatorial ticket, rather I will fully support our leader, His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni to contest the senatorial seat.”
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