2027: APC Stakeholders Push for Power Shift in Borno South, Back Askira for Senate

2027: APC Stakeholders Push for Power Shift in Borno South, Back Askira for Senate

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri 

Political undercurrents in Borno South Senatorial District took a decisive turn on Tuesday as influential stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) openly opposed the continued stay of Senator Ali Ndume in the National Assembly, signalling a growing demand for power rotation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The position emerged from a series of high-level consultations held across Biu, Gwoza and Shani, where party leaders and community influencers rallied behind the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State Assembly, Abdullahi Musa Askira, urging him to contest the senatorial seat.

The move, according to participants, reflects a broader agitation to end what they described as the prolonged dominance of Gwoza Local Government Area in representing the district at the Senate since 1999.

Speaking on behalf of elders and party stakeholders, a Second Republic politician and APC chieftain, Sule Gambo, said the agitation is rooted in a long-standing agreement that the seat should rotate among the constituent local government areas.

“We began this journey with a clear understanding that representation would be shared. Askira/Uba yielded the position to Gwoza in the spirit of fairness,” Gambo said. “But that understanding has not been honoured, and the process has stalled. It is only that other areas are given the opportunity to serve.”

He stressed that the district, which comprises Chibok, Damboa, Gwoza and Askira/Uba, must return to the principles of inclusiveness to foster unity and equitable development.

Gambo further described Askira as a capable figure with the intellectual depth and leadership qualities required to reposition the district at the national level.

Adding her voice, a prominent women’s leader, Dr Hawa Mai-Musa, warned that women, who constitute a significant portion of the electorate, are prepared to insist on fairness in representation.

“For over two decades, the Senate seat has remained in one axis. For justice and balance, it should now shift to other areas like Chibok and Askira/Uba,” she said. “Engr. Askira has demonstrated capacity, and we stand firmly behind him.”

Traditional authorities have also weighed in on the unfolding debate. The Galadima of Uba Emirate, Alhaji Adamu Jafiya, called for a new direction in leadership, noting that the district requires a representative focused on development and stability.

“Our people desire leadership that prioritises progress and delivers tangible results, not endless controversies,” he said.

Meanwhile, an aide to the Deputy Speaker, who requested anonymity, said his principal is yet to make a formal declaration but is actively consulting stakeholders across the district.

“He is listening carefully to the people and engaging widely before taking any decision,” the aide said.

The growing calls for rotation underscore rising political tensions in Borno South, as competing interests begin to shape the battle for the 2027 Senate seat. Analysts say the unfolding developments could redefine alliances within the APC and significantly influence the region’s political landscape in the months ahead, particularly as various factions vie for power and support in the lead-up to the elections.