DistantNews
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Yobe Senator Drops Re-election Bid, Backs Governor Buni for Senate Seat

From The Punch · (4m ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Senator Musa Mustapha has withdrawn his bid for a second term representing Yobe East Senatorial District.
  • He declared support for Governor Mai Mala Buni to contest the Senate seat in 2027 and also withdrew from the APC governorship ticket race.
  • The decision follows a meeting of Yobe APC Critical Stakeholders' Forum and aims to unite the party for upcoming elections.

In a significant political maneuver, Senator Musa Mustapha has stepped aside from the senatorial race, throwing his weight behind Governor Mai Mala Buni for the Yobe East Senatorial District seat in 2027. This move, announced via a statement on Thursday, signals a strategic realignment within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State. Mustapha's decision to withdraw from contention for both the Senate and the governorship ticket underscores a commitment to party unity and adherence to the decisions of party leaders.

A Notice of Withdrawal from Any Contest and Endorsement of Our Leaders’ Decision.

— Musa MustaphaTitle of the statement announcing his withdrawal from the senatorial race and support for Governor Buni.

The Senator's statement, titled "A Notice of Withdrawal from Any Contest and Endorsement of Our Leaders’ Decision," explicitly referenced a meeting of the Yobe APC Critical Stakeholders’ Forum. This gathering, convened by Governor Buni and the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, appears to have been pivotal in shaping the party's succession plan. The unanimous agreement to support a consensus candidate presented by the leaders demonstrates a top-down approach to leadership selection within the state's ruling party.

To exercise the spirit of integrity and responsibility, I hereby formally withdraw from the contest for the APC governorship ticket.

— Musa MustaphaStating his withdrawal from the governorship ticket race after a party stakeholders' meeting.

Mustapha's expression of gratitude towards Governor Buni and Minister Gaidam for past opportunities highlights a long-standing political relationship. His acknowledgment of their roles in his career, from Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Scholarship Board to commissioner and now senator, frames his withdrawal not as a personal defeat but as a strategic concession for the greater good of the party. This narrative of loyalty and deference to leadership is a common theme in Nigerian politics, where consensus-building and party discipline often take precedence over individual ambition.

Additionally, to make it explicitly clear, I am not contesting the senatorial ticket; rather, I will fully support our leader, His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, to contest the senatorial seat.

— Musa MustaphaClarifying his withdrawal from the senatorial race and endorsing Governor Buni.

The directive for social media platforms and supporters to cease campaigning for him and instead promote APC candidates further emphasizes the senator's commitment to party cohesion. By urging the shutdown or repurposing of his online presence, Mustapha aims to consolidate support for the party's chosen flagbearers, ensuring a unified front for upcoming electoral contests. This proactive step seeks to prevent any potential factionalism and channel all energy towards electoral victory, a crucial objective for any political party seeking to maintain its hold on power.

I will forever remain grateful to them for this rare privilege.

— Musa MustaphaExpressing gratitude to Governor Buni and Minister Gaidam for past opportunities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog