Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has once again demonstrated his enduring political dominance in Borno South, securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for a record‑extending fifth term after emerging unopposed through an affirmation process in the state capital on Monday, May 18, 2026. The lawmaker, who has represented the senatorial district since 2011, was returned unopposed after his main challenger, Abdullahi Askira, voluntarily withdrew from the race last month following extensive consultations and appeals from party stakeholders across the senatorial zone.
Ndume’s smooth victory at the primary election, which was held at the APC designated venue in Maiduguri, adds another chapter to a legislative career that began in the House of Representatives before his seamless transition to the upper chamber. If he wins the 2027 general election, he will not only secure a fifth term in the Senate but also extend his uninterrupted presence in the National Assembly to nearly three decades. The deputy speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, who had initially signalled interest in contesting the seat, stepped aside to allow the former senate leader to run unopposed. Askira premised his decision to drop his senatorial ambition on the need for party unity, describing it as a voluntary withdrawal in deference to the appeals of party elders and leaders.
Reacting to his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate, Ndume expressed profound gratitude to APC stakeholders in Borno South, delegates, and party members for their unwavering support. “I want to thank our elders in Borno South Senatorial District for their unwavering support for me. I want to reassure them that I will continue to promote their interest at all times,” he said, according to a statement released after the affirmation exercise. The former senate leader also reserved special praise for his erstwhile rival, Abdullahi Askira, whom he commended for placing party loyalty above personal ambition. “I must not fail to commend Honourable Askira, who listened to persuasions and appeals of the party leaders and took the decision to drop his aspiration. Your loyalty to the party is exemplary,” Ndume added. He further called on party stakeholders across the district to remain united and continue working together as “one political family” as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Ndume’s effortless clinching of the ticket mirrored the outcome for the other two incumbent senators from the state. Mohammed Monguno (Borno North) and Kala Shehu Lawan (Borno Central) were also affirmed as sole candidates for their respective senatorial districts, highlighting the APC’s drive to maintain stability and reduce intra‑party friction as the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum. The affirmation exercises were conducted by the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for Borno State, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, and were attended by party leaders, stakeholders, and supporters from the three senatorial zones.
The development comes just weeks after youth groups from the nine local government areas of Borno South raised N38.5 million to procure expression of interest and nomination forms for Ndume, underlining the strong grassroots backing he enjoys in the district. Political observers note that the former senate leader’s capacity to secure the party ticket without facing a primary contest reflects his deep entrenchment within the political structure of the APC and his ability to forge consensus among competing interest groups in the senatorial zone.
The long‑serving lawmaker’s legislative journey began in 1999 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, a position he held for two consecutive terms. He moved to the Senate in 2011 and has since been returned at every election cycle. A fifth term victory in 2027 would further solidify his standing as one of the most influential political figures from the North‑East and as a veteran lawmaker whose experience cuts across nearly three decades of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The road to the 2027 general election is still long, but with the party ticket now firmly in his pocket, Senator Ali Ndume has taken the decisive first step toward what could be his most historic return to the red chamber.
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