Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has officially presented Mr Mustapha Gubio as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mr Dauda Iliya, on Friday in Maiduguri.
According to the statement, Governor Zulum made the presentation during a meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, describing Gubio’s emergence as the outcome of wide-ranging consultations with key stakeholders within the party.
Zulum stated that the decision reflected a united position among APC leaders in Borno State, stressing that the process was driven by collective agreement aimed at sustaining political stability and continuity in the state.
The governor also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as strategic leadership and unwavering support for both Borno State and the ruling party.
“I wish to express my profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the leadership he is providing in the country and for the enormous support to Borno State as well as the APC, which has been unprecedented.
“I would also like to commend the President, who has been instrumental in the emergence of Gubio as the consensus candidate,” Zulum said.
He further acknowledged Vice President Kashim Shettima for his role in fostering unity within the APC in Borno and for backing the consensus arrangement that produced Gubio.
Zulum also extended appreciation to the leadership of the APC at various levels, party stakeholders, and the people of Borno State for their continued support and cooperation.
The presentation follows the governor’s earlier move on Monday when he unveiled Gubio as his preferred successor after purchasing the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 governorship election.
Gubio, who recently served as Commissioner for Works and Housing before stepping down, is widely regarded as one of the prominent figures in the state’s political landscape.
The event was attended by several top political figures, including former Governor Maina Ma’aji Lawan, Deputy Governor Usman Kadafur, APC Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori, Senators Mohammed Monguno, Ali Ndume and Kaka Shehu Lawan.
Others present included the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, and Abdulkadir Rahis.
The endorsement signals a major step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 governorship contest in Borno, with party leaders rallying behind Gubio as the consensus choice to succeed Zulum.
What You Should Know
Mustapha Gubio’s emergence as APC’s consensus governorship candidate in Borno signals a carefully coordinated succession plan within the ruling party.
Governor Zulum’s public endorsement and formal presentation to Vice President Shettima indicate strong backing from influential political stakeholders. Such consensus arrangements have often shaped Borno’s political transitions, reducing internal party conflicts ahead of elections.
The development also reflects APC’s strategy of maintaining continuity in governance and preserving party dominance in the state.
With support from key national and state leaders, Gubio is entering the race with significant political momentum, though attention will now shift to how party members and voters respond.
