Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Fourteen Borno aspirants that contested for the APC Gubernatorial ticket; have endorsed outcome of primary election by upholding victory of Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum. Fifteen of the 20 aspirants were also physically present at the venue of primary election held on Sunday at the El-Kanemi Warriors Stadium, Maiduguri. The ex- Borno deputy governor, Yuguda Dibal in a statement issued on Thursday in Maiduguri, disclosed that 10 aspirants stepped down before voting. According to him, Gambo Lawan, Attom Magira and Umar Alkali Nasco each spoke before journalists with video clips evidence to concede defeat. The trio congratulated the winner and promised to help him win the gubernatorial election. Attom Magira went a step further by announcing the collapse of his campaign structure including a vehicle for Prof. Zulum’s campaign. He said that everything was captured on video. According to him, 13 aspirants including the winner, Zulum makes up 14 of them who fully endorsed the outcome of primary election. The 21st aspirant, Sen. Mohammed Abba Aji has, however defected to PDP leaving 20 aspirants for the primary. Dibal in the statement listed the ten contestants who stepped down to include himself, Senators Abubakar Kyari and Baba Kaka Garbai, Kaka Shehu Lawan, Adamu Lawan, Mustapha Fannarambe, Tijjani Banki, Mohammed Makinta, Sheriff and Mohammed Liman. He said the aspirants took turns to publicly announce their voluntary withdrawal and declared support for Zulum. He noted that five other contestants present at the venue, who include; Idriss Durkwa, Gambo Lawan, Attom Magira and Umar Alkali declared readiness to stand for the election against Zulum. He said Idriss told the gathering that he had met with delegates and entered into a covenant with them to elect him. Continuing, he added: “All the contestants nominated their agents that closely monitored the entire voting process. “The contestants were also at the venue from night till early hours of Monday and none of them raised any query before, during and after the elections. “They witnessed everything and didn’t make any complain to officials because the election was very transparent and credible to both aspirants and over 4, 000 delegates.” He said at end of the primary election, collation, sorting and counting of votes were carried out transparently for Prof. Zulum to scored 4,432 votes. Zulum deafeated defeat Idriss Durkwa to clinch second position with 114 votes. He noted that only five out 20 aspirants were not present at the primary election. He listed the absentees to include, Kashim Imam, Baba Ahmed Jidda, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, Mohammed Umara Kumalia and Abba Jatau. He said they also participated in the election and polled scores of votes. He said that in accordance to the electoral panel, there was no formal communication of withdrawal. He explained that a petition by 10 aspirants calling for the cancellation of the election was erroneous; because four of aspirants are signatories to the petition copied to the President and APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. The aspirants include; Gambo Lawan, Attom Magira, Umar Alkali and Mohammed Liman Chiroma; but endorsed the outcome of the election and pledged to work for the victory of Zulum. He described the conduct of the election as not only satisfactory; but highly impressive to the extent that there are numerous news reports of commendations by civil society organizations which monitored the election. “They gave testimonies to the high standard and credibility of the gubernatorial primary election in Maiduguri,” he said. The Borno APC initially had 21 Governorship aspirants; Sen. Mohammed Abba Aji last two weeks however; defected to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the Borno central senatorial seat.
