The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna
The political landscape of Borno State witnessed significant realignment over the weekend as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) successfully concluded its House of Representatives primary elections in nine out of ten federal constituencies.

The exercise, which was largely characterized by high-level stakeholder consensus and strategic affirmations, however, hit a brick wall in the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, where the process was declared inconclusive following an official protest.

The primary elections, conducted across the 27 Local Government Areas and 312 Electoral Wards of the state, were monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various state security apparatuses. The exercises were overseen by a seven-man committee mandated by the APC National Working Committee (NWC), chaired by Prophet Jones Ode Erue, with Professor Mobolaji Omobowale serving as Secretary.

Delivering the committee’s verdict at a media briefing in Maiduguri on Sunday, Prophet Erue disclosed that while the exercise recorded remarkable success and orderliness across nine federal constituencies, an unresolved dispute stalled the final declaration for the tenth constituency. A frontline aspirant, Comrade Audu Garba Zali, had lodged a formal complaint against the process in the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, forcing the panel to put a hold on the results pending a review by the APC National Appeals Committee.
“The House of Representatives primary elections were successfully conducted and concluded across nine out of ten federal constituencies in a peaceful, transparent, orderly, and highly commendable manner,” Erue stated.

“However, at the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, complaints were received from one of the aspirants, Comrade Audu Garba Zali. Therefore, our committee shall wait for the report of the Appeals Committee before results are announced.”

Analysis of the certified outcomes showed a strong preference for consensus-building among Borno APC leaders, which allowed several high-profile incumbents and heavyweights to secure their tickets without rancor.

In the Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency, Hon. (Engr.) Bukar Talba emerged unopposed. Similarly, the high-flying federal lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu, sailed through unopposed via voice affirmation to secure the ticket for the Biu/Bayo/Kwaya/Shani constituency.

The consensus mechanism also cleared the path for five other candidates who were unanimously adopted by delegates. Notably, Dr. Kaumi Umara Zulum—the brother of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum—clinched the APC ticket for the Dikwa/Konduga/Mafa Federal Constituency. Other consensus beneficiaries include Hon. Fati Kakenna Alkali Monguno (Mobbar/Guzama/Abadam/Kukawa), Hon. Usman Zana (Magumeri/Kaga/Gubio), Hon. Ahmed Usman Jaha (Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa), and Hon. (Engr.) Satomi Ahmed (Jere).

Conversely, where negotiations yielded to the ballot, competitive direct primaries were held in two key constituencies. In the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Abdulkadir Rahis, comfortably retained his ticket after polling an impressive 38,576 votes. In the Bama/Ngala/Kala Balge Federal Constituency, Mustapha Abdullahi secured a definitive victory by polling 20,509 votes.
Reviewing the entire process, the committee expressed satisfaction with the democratic threshold maintained during the exercise, adjudging it as free, fair, credible, and fully aligned with Article 20 of the APC Constitution and Sections 84, 86, and 87 of the Electoral Act.

While nine constituencies are now safely locked in for the ruling party, political observers within the state are keenly watching how the NWC handles the fractured Askira-Uba/Hawul ticket.
The certified breakdown of outcomes shows that Hon. (Engr.) Bukar Talba emerged unopposed for the Marte/Monguno/Nganzai constituency, a feat matched by Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu who sailed through unopposed for Biu/Bayo/Kwaya/Shani. Five other constituencies successfully produced winners via consensus arrangements: Hon. Fati Kakenna Alkali Monguno for Mobbar/Guzama/Abadam/Kukawa, Hon. Usman Zana for Magumeri/Kaga/Gubio, Dr. Kaumi Umara Zulum for Dikwa/Konduga/Mafa, Hon. Ahmed Usman Jaha for Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa, and Hon. (Engr.) Satomi Ahmed for Jere. Meanwhile, in the areas where competitive voting took place, Hon. Abdulkadir Rahis secured the ticket for the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council with 38,576 votes, and Mustapha Abdullahi won the Bama/Ngala/Kala Balge seat with 20,509 votes. In contrast to these nine successfully resolved contests, the Askira/Uba/Hawul constituency returned no candidate as the exercise was declared inconclusive.