Top senator drops re-election bid, backs Governor for Senate seat

The Senator representing Yobe East Senatorial District, Musa Mustapha, has withdrawn from seeking a second term in the Senate and declared support for Governor Mai Mala Buni to contest for the seat in 2027.

Mustapha also announced his withdrawal from the race for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Yobe State, pledging loyalty to the choice of party leaders on the state’s succession plan.

The lawmaker disclosed this in a statement on Thursday titled, “A Notice of Withdrawal from Any Contest and Endorsement of Our Leaders’ Decision.”

He said the decision followed a meeting of the Yobe APC Critical Stakeholders’ Forum held on April 23, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Damaturu, convened by Buni and the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam.

According to him, participants at the meeting unanimously agreed to support whoever the leaders present as their preferred governorship candidate.

To exercise the spirit of integrity and responsibility, I hereby formally withdraw from the contest for the APC governorship ticket,” Mustapha said.

He also said, “Additionally, to make it explicitly clear, I am not contesting the senatorial ticket; rather, I will fully support our leader, His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, to contest the senatorial seat.”

He expressed gratitude to Buni and Gaidam for giving him the opportunity to serve the state in various capacities, including Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Scholarship Board, commissioner on two occasions, and now senator.

“I will forever remain grateful to them for this rare privilege,” he said.

The senator also thanked his supporters and campaign team for standing by him, describing their encouragement as a source of strength.

He directed those operating social media platforms in his name to shut them down or convert them into channels for promoting APC candidates in Yobe State and beyond.

“This directive is to further unite the party and ensure its victory in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

Mustapha also urged those using his photographs or campaigning for him for any political office to stop immediately, saying a decision had been taken and he fully supports it.

He congratulated former Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Mallam Wali, whom he described as the preferred choice of party leaders to govern the state.

“I congratulate Alhaji Baba Wali for emerging as the preferred choice of our leaders to lead our dear state, and indeed all our APC candidates in Yobe. I wish them the very best,” he added.