Baba Malam Wali, former secretary to the Yobe State Government, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress’ governorship contender for the state’s 2027 general elections.
Wali won the APC governorship primary poll, which took place on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Damaturu, defeating other candidates.
Muttaqah Darma, Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, announced the results, saying the exercise followed the party’s constitution and standards.
“I therefore declare Baba Malam Wali, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, as the winner of the primary election and the party’s governorship candidate for Yobe State,” Darma said.
According to the committee’s statistics, Wali received 236,711 votes, defeating his closest contender, Dr. Abubakar Bukar Kagu, who received 9,748 votes.
Other candidates received fewer votes, including Bashir Sheriff Machina (1,894 votes), Engr Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja (1,178 votes), Hamidu Alhaji Muhammad (1,722 votes), Inusa Muhammad (1,148 votes), and Ma’aji Modu (1,371 votes).
Wali, from Nguru Local Government Area in Yobe North Senatorial District, had previously emerged as the party’s consensus candidate during a stakeholder conference organized by the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam.
His presence is expected to boost calls for the governorship to be transferred to Yobe North, which has yet to produce a governor or deputy governor since the state’s inception in 1991.
Wali was born in 1958 and attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
He started his public service career at the Chad Basin Development Authority before becoming a social mobilization officer at Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery.
He eventually worked in various public service positions, including permanent secretary in multiple ministries and secretary to the state government under previous governors Ibrahim Geidam and Mai Mala Buni.
In March, the Progressive Governors Forum recognized him as Nigeria’s longest-serving secretary to a state government.
