Ex-Senate President Lawan loses out in Yobe guber race as former SSG emerges consensus candidate

Former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has lost out in his bid to get the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Yobe as Baba Mallam Wali emerged the consensus candidate after a meeting of party stakeholders in the state.

The stakeholders’ meeting was convened by Governor Mai Mala Buni and his predecessor, Ibrahim Gaidam in Damaturu.

At the meeting, party stakeholders agreed to support the candidate endorsed by the leadership.

Lawan had earlier indicated interest in succeeding Governor Buni as the chief executive of the North East state.

Senator Musa Mustapha representing Yobe East, subsequently announced his withdrawal from the race in line with the consensus arrangement.

“In the course of our meeting, we unanimously made commitment that we would support whoever our leaders presented as their preferred governorship candidate.

“To exercise the spirit of integrity and responsibility, I hereby formally withdraw from the contest for the APC gubernatorial ticket.

“Additionally… I am not contesting for the senatorial ticket, rather I will fully support our leader… to contest the senatorial seat,” he said.

He directed his supporters to shut down or repurpose platforms promoting his ambition in support of APC candidates.