Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has called on political aspirants who lost out during party primaries to put their grievances aside and rally behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Zulum made the appeal on Sunday upon his return to Maiduguri from Canada and the United States, where he received a Pan-African top leadership award. He was received by party executives, lawmakers, government officials, and a large crowd of supporters.
Addressing the gathering, Zulum urged political contenders to view electoral defeat as an act of divine will. He stated that those who contested the party primaries should forgive him if they were offended, and take their defeat as the will of God. Zulum emphasized that his administration had operated with integrity and fairness over the past seven years, and that they had not cheated anyone. He acknowledged that they may not have achieved everything, but attributed this to factors beyond their control.
Zulum positioned the APC as the dominant political force in Borno, stating that no other party had the strength to rival the ruling party in the state. He charged party loyalists to vote massively for the APC across all levels, from the presidency to the 27 state assembly seats. Zulum highlighted that Borno's current political standing, with a son of the state as Vice President, made it an ideal time to secure more federal projects and interventions.
The governor stressed the importance of total party loyalty, issuing a firm note to dissenters that anyone who refused to support the party would not benefit from the incoming administration. However, he expressed confidence in the party's total victory in the 2027 elections. Zulum also thanked party stakeholders, officeholders, and executives for their support, assuring women and youth groups of more empowerment programs to be rolled out soon.
Zulum reiterated his commitment to governance, admitting that it was humanly impossible to satisfy everyone. He stated that his administration remained dedicated to fulfilling its remaining promises, with the incoming leadership poised to complete any unfinished business across all 27 local government areas. The governor also appealed to those who held grudges against his administration for perceived shortcomings to forgive them.
Reflecting on his administration's performance, Zulum maintained that they had operated with integrity and fairness over the past seven years. He acknowledged that they may have fallen short of some expectations, but assured that the incoming governor, Mustapha Gubio, would execute the remaining tasks. Zulum expressed appreciation to party stakeholders, current officeholders, and executives for their steadfast support.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Zulum's declaration of Borno as an APC territory sets the tone for the party's campaign in the state. The governor's call for party loyalty and unity is expected to resonate with party members, as they gear up for the elections. The APC's dominance in Borno is likely to be a major factor in the state's politics in the coming years.
Key points
- Governor Zulum urges political aspirants to put aside grievances and rally behind the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Zulum positions the APC as the dominant political force in Borno, with no other party having the strength to rival the ruling party.
- The governor stresses the importance of total party loyalty, warning dissenters that they would not benefit from the incoming administration.
