Borno Governorship: Sen Lawan Picks APC Form As Zulum’s Aide Insists on Anointment

The Borno State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship race took a fresh twist as the Senator representing Borno Central, Sen. Kaka Shehu Lawan, SAN, on Wednesday obtained his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the state’s governorship race.

Sen. Lawan picked up the forms on Wednesday afternoon at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists shortly after obtaining the forms, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for their unwavering commitment and sacrifices to the unity of the APC, the people of Borno, and the country as a whole.

On why he is vying for the governorship seat, and whether he supports the consensus arrangement for candidates to emerge, he said: “I am a lawyer, and I have what it takes to use my expertise and knowledge gained over the years in the legal and legislative fields to transform our dear state through inclusive governance and sustainable development.

“The Electoral Act provides two options for candidates to emerge—either by primaries or consensus—so whichever option our stakeholders and teaming supporters adopt, I am very much prepared for it,” Lawan explained.

The senator insisted that he supports the consensus arrangement adopted by the APC for choosing candidates, adding that he strongly aligns himself with it.

His move comes a day after the immediate past Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, also obtained his forms.

Gubio is widely regarded as the anointed aspirant of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, even as political pundits allege that Sen. Lawan is the preferred candidate of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Both Gubio and Lawan are prominent APC figures in Borno. Gubio served in Zulum’s cabinet, while Lawan currently represents the Borno Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly and is a former Borno State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

Meanwhile, a statement by Governor Zulum’s Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communication, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, titled “Clarification on Media Release: ‘Zulum Anoints, Not Endorses Gubio as His Successor’,” addressed an earlier statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Spokesman, Malam Dauda Iliya, noting that there was no confusion regarding Zulum’s position.

Bundi said the choice of Gubio as the governor’s preferred successor has been clear, consistent, and unequivocal, adding that the use of the word “anoints” in the release was deliberate and accurate.

He said it signifies a decisive, personal designation that goes beyond a routine endorsement.

“To be clear, Engr. Mustapha Gubio remains Zulum’s favoured candidate to succeed him. The term ‘endorse’ was avoided only because it can sometimes imply formal, party-level backing subject to ratification processes. Governor Zulum’s ‘anointing’ reflects his firm and unreserved conviction—a stronger, more personal stamp of approval.

“Thus, the earlier press release created no misunderstanding. Gubio is, and continues to be, Governor Zulum’s number one choice. This clarification merely reaffirms that fact as released by Malam Dauda Iliya,” Bundi said.