Former Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman Alkali, has withdrawn from the Yobe state governorship race under the All Progressives Congress, (APC)
Alkali announced his withdrawal that ended his governorship aspiration in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former police boss noted in the statement that, he decided to withdraw from the contest after series of consultations with Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni as well as Borno State elders, among others.
“After due consultations and exhaustive meetings with the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, the Executive Governors of Yobe and Borno state, elders and political associates, as well as some very critical stakeholders across the seventeen Local Government Areas, I have decided to withdraw my aspiration to the governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
According to him, the decision was a voluntary one for the interest of party unity, stability and progress of the state.
“Having made this decision, we have to but urge our teaming supporters to remain calm, law-abiding and continue to support our great party, the APC, as well as the eventual gubernatorial candidate”, he added.
The retired police boss was among six APC governorship aspirants who had earlier rejected the emergence of Baba Malam Wali as consensus candidate and insisted on the conduct of direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and APC guidelines.
The aspirants included Senator Ibrahim Bomai, Mustapha Maihaja, Bashir Machina, former IGP Usman Baba Alkali, Kashim Musa Tumsah and Lawan Kolo Geidam.
As it is, ex- IGP Usman Baba Alkali and former FCT Mandate Secretary on Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Kolo have so far withdrew from the guber race thereby depleting the number of aspirants from six to four.
Meanwhile, both Usman Baba Alkali and Lawan Kolo have refused to endorse the preferred governorship candidate of APC, Alh Baba Mallam Wali.