A governorship aspirant in Yobe state, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, has rejected the planned consensus arrangement in the state, saying that he will not accept the choice of ex-Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Malam Wali as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
In a social media post, Bomai said rather than a group of people imposing their will on the state, it will be more democratic to allow the people to make their choice.
APC leaders in Yobe, including the state governor, Mai Mala Buni have reportedly endorsed the former SSG as the party's consensus candidate.
However, Senator Bomai, who represents Yobe South Senatorial Zone, said it would be unfair to shut down the voice of the people in such a crucial matter, saying anything that does not align with the interest of the people is undemocratic.
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He said, " Let us, for once, truly listen to the people from Zone A to Zone B, and from Zone B to Zone C. Let their voices be heard during our primaries. Let their will determine who emerges as our flag bearer. This aligns with the spirit of the amended Electoral Act of 2026, which places greater trust in the people.
He said, the procedures and guidelines regarding consensus were not followed in the case of Yobe as it stipulates that only aspirants duly screened and cleared by the Party's Screening Committees shall participate in the consensus arrangement while the process must be voluntary to ensure inclusiveness and fairness while each cleared aspirant must execute a written consent indicating voluntary withdrawal from the race and unconditional support for the agreed consensus candidate.
According to him, "The so-called Yobe consensus is, therefore, a clear violation of the APC's guidelines and constitution, as well as the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as no individual has the moral or political authority to determine the leadership of millions behind closed doors."
He added: "Let it be clearly understood: any effort to force leadership on the people of Yobe will be firmly resisted through lawful and democratic means. Silence will not be mistaken for consent, and intimidation will not weaken our resolve.
The governorship aspirant called on all stakeholders, political leaders, institutions, and citizens to rise up to the occasion.
