KEY POINTS

• Ali Ndume has secured the APC senatorial ticket for Borno South ahead of the 2027 elections.
• He emerged unopposed after his main rival, Abdullahi Askira, withdrew following consultations with party stakeholders.
• If re-elected, Ndume will begin a fifth term in the Senate, extending his long-standing legislative career.

Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Borno South ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ndume emerged as the party’s consensus candidate through an affirmation process conducted during the APC primary election held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

His emergence followed the withdrawal of his main challenger, Abdullahi Askira, who stepped down from the race after consultations with party leaders and stakeholders in the senatorial district

Abdullahi Askira, the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, announced his withdrawal from the contest last month.

According to party insiders, the decision came after appeals from APC elders and influential stakeholders seeking unity within the party ahead of the elections.

The withdrawal paved the way for Ndume to emerge unopposed, reinforcing his strong political influence within Borno South and the APC structure in the state.

Ndume Thanks Party Leaders and Supporters

Speaking after being declared winner of the primary, Ndume expressed gratitude to party stakeholders, delegates, and supporters across the senatorial district for their confidence in him.

“I want to thank our elders in Borno South Senatorial District for their unwavering support for me. I want to reassure them that I will continue to promote their interest at all times,” he said.

The senator also praised Askira for prioritising party unity by stepping down from the race.

“I must not fail to commend Honourable Askira, who listened to persuasions and appeals of the party leaders and took the decision to drop his aspiration. Your loyalty to the party is exemplary,” Ndume added.

Ndume urged APC members and stakeholders in Borno State to remain united as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.

He stressed the importance of internal cohesion and collective support to strengthen the party’s chances at both state and national levels.

“Continue to work as one united political family as the country prepares for the general elections,” he told party members.

If re-elected in 2027, Ndume will secure a fifth term in the Nigerian Senate, further extending a political career that has spanned both chambers of the National Assembly.

Before joining the Senate, he served for four years in the House of Representatives and later became one of the prominent figures in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber.

Over the years, Ndume has remained influential in national politics, particularly on issues relating to security, governance, and the north-east region.