Borno Central Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan has withdrawn from the state governorship contest and endorsed former legislator Mustapha Gubio as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate, officials said.
The decision was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. According to a statement from Lawan’s legislative aide, Usman Alkali, the gathering – which included Borno Governor Babagana Zulum, senior APC leaders, National Assembly members and representatives of the Borno Elders Forum – resolved that Lawan should step aside to allow Gubio to emerge as the party’s flag‑bearer for the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Alkali added that the senator is expected to retain his seat in the Senate following the development. The meeting was described as a move to promote unity and strengthen cohesion within the APC ahead of the upcoming elections.
The Borno State Government subsequently confirmed that the party has formally adopted Gubio as its consensus governorship candidate. In a separate statement, Governor Zulum’s spokesperson, Dauda Illiya, said the governor presented Gubio to Vice President Shettima in Abuja as the party’s preferred candidate. Zulum praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and thanked the Vice President for fostering unity among party stakeholders in the state.
The consensus arrangement is intended to present a united front for the APC in Borno, a state that has traditionally been a stronghold of the party. Party leaders and other stakeholders are expected to travel to Maiduguri later this week for further consultations on campaign strategy and coordination.
The development underscores the APC’s effort to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 elections, signaling that internal disagreements are being resolved through consensus rather than contested primaries. The outcome will shape the political landscape in Borno and may influence the broader dynamics of the upcoming national election cycle.
