Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Borno State Government has formally distanced Governor Babagana Umara Zulum from reports that he endorsed his immediate past Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election. The clarification was issued on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Spokesperson, Mallam Dauda Iliya, following a flurry of conflicting media reports that suggested an outright political endorsement had taken place.
In a statement titled “Zulum anoints, not endorses Gubio as his successor”, the aide explained that the governor had merely “anointed” Mustapha Gubio while receiving him at a political engagement in Abuja – a routine gesture of blessing and prayer for aspirants who have purchased their nomination and expression of interest forms. “Receiving contestants is a routine tradition of responsible leaders to bless and offer prayers for success in democratic dispensation,” Iliya said. He further noted that Governor Zulum, as leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State, also received other aspirants on the same day, including Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North Senatorial seat) and Hon. Bukar Talba (Monguno/Nganzai/Marte Federal Constituency). The implication, according to the spokesperson, was that the governor’s gesture could not be interpreted as a unilateral endorsement, but rather as a routine political reception that all aspirants have enjoyed.
The clarification came as former Commissioner Mustapha Gubio, who resigned from the cabinet before declaring his interest, was widely rumoured to have become the governor’s anointed candidate. Iliya stressed that Governor Zulum remains a “committed democrat who believes in inclusivity” and that the governor had earlier informed stakeholders during an April 25 meeting at the Government House that a separate session would be convened to formally present the party’s candidates. The aide urged the public to disregard any claim suggesting that the governor had already endorsed any aspirant ahead of the party’s official position.
The conflicting reports had led to speculation of a brewing power tussle within the Borno APC, with some political observers interpreting the symbolic photograph of Gubio presenting his forms to Governor Zulum as a clear show of political backing. However, Iliya’s statement effectively drew a line between anointment – a cultural and political blessing – and endorsement, which would imply a formal, exclusive nod to one aspirant over others. The government’s intervention appears aimed at preserving a level playing field and preventing internal discord as the APC prepares for its governorship primaries, which must be held between April 23 and May 30, 2026, in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable.
While Mustapha Gubio was the first to pick up the APC nomination and expression of interest forms, the governor’s aide reiterated that Zulum is open to receiving and blessing all aspirants. “Governor Zulum … not only received Engr. Gubio, who has indicated interest in vying for the governorship seat and was the first to obtain the nomination and expression of interest forms, but also received contestants for Borno North Senatorial seat, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, and House of Representatives member for Monguno/Nganzai/Marte Federal Constituency, Hon. Bukar Talba, among others,” Iliya said. The governor’s office has since maintained that the final decision on the party’s flag‑bearer will be made by party delegates in a free and fair primary.
When a Punch reporter sought to clarify why the term “anointment” was used, Iliya responded that it was a traditional practice of receiving aspirants with prayers and well‑wishes, and that it should not be misconstrued as a directive to party members. “What we are saying is that the governor received him, prayed for him, and blessed him in the same way he received other aspirants. That is not endorsement; it is anointment,” he explained.
The controversy highlights the delicate balancing act that governors must perform as they near the end of their tenures. While Zulum is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, his influence in choosing a successor is immense. By publicly clarifying the limits of his gesture, the governor has effectively avoided giving any candidate an undue advantage while still allowing himself to play the role of a party patriarch who blesses all comers. Whether this distinction will be respected by party faithful and rival camps remains to be seen, but for now, the official position from Maiduguri is unequivocal: Zulum has not endorsed Gubio – or anyone else – for governor.
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