Wali Emerges APC Gov’ship Candidate in Yobe
A former Secretary to the Yobe State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections in the state. Wali, 68, was declared winner of the party’s governorship primary election held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Damaturu. Announcing the […]
A former Secretary to the Yobe State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections in the state.
Wali, 68, was declared winner of the party’s governorship primary election held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Damaturu.
Announcing the results, the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Engr. Muttaqah Rabe Darma, said the exercise was conducted in line with the party’s constitution, guidelines and provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act.
He said Wali polled 236,711 votes to defeat other aspirants including Dr. Abubakar Bukar Kagu, who scored 9,748 votes.
According to him, Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina secured 1,894 votes, while Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja got 1,178 votes.
Darma added that Hamidu Alhaji Muhammad scored 1,722 votes, Inusa Muhammad polled 1,148 votes, while Ma’aji Modu secured 1,371 votes.
“I therefore declare Baba Malam Wali, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, as the winner of the primary election and the party’s governorship candidate for Yobe State,” he said.
Wali, who hails from Nguru Local Government Area in Yobe North Senatorial District, had earlier emerged as the consensus candidate of the party following a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam.
His emergence is seen by political observers as strengthening the agitation for power shift to Yobe North, a zone that has neither produced a governor nor deputy governor since the creation of the state in 1991.
Born in 1958, Wali attended Ahmadu Bello University where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
He began his public service career with the Chad Basin Development Authority before moving to the defunct Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) as a Social Mobilisation Officer.
He also served as Principal Research Officer in the Borno State Governor’s Office and later became Principal Private Secretary to the then Military Governor of Borno State.
Following his promotion to Permanent Secretary, Wali served in several ministries including Sports and Social Development, Transport and Energy, Environment, as well as Administration and General Services.
He later attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies where he completed the Senior Executive Course and earned the title of Member of the National Institute (mni).
On his return, he was appointed Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services, before becoming Secretary to the State Government under the administrations of Senator Ibrahim Geidam and Governor Mai Mala Buni.
In March this year, Wali was recognised by the Progressive Governors Forum as the longest-serving Secretary to a State Government in Nigeria.