Senator Musa Mustapha, representing Yobe East Senatorial District, has withdrawn from the race for a second term in the Senate and endorsed Governor Mai Mala Buni to contest the seat in 2027.
Mustapha also announced he will not seek the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Yobe State, stating he will support the party leaders’ choice on the state’s succession plan.
The lawmaker made the announcement in a statement on Thursday titled, “A Notice of Withdrawal from Any Contest and Endorsement of Our Leaders’ Decision.”
He said the decision followed an April 23, 2026 meeting of the Yobe APC Critical Stakeholders’ Forum held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Damaturu. The meeting was convened by Governor Buni and Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam.
According to Mustapha, stakeholders at the meeting unanimously agreed to back whoever the party leaders present as their preferred governorship candidate.
“To exercise the spirit of integrity and responsibility, I hereby formally withdraw from the contest for the APC governorship ticket,” Mustapha said.
“Additionally, to make it explicitly clear, I am not contesting the senatorial ticket; rather, I will fully support our leader, His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, to contest the senatorial seat,” he added.
Mustapha thanked Buni and Gaidam for the opportunity to serve the state as Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Scholarship Board, commissioner on two occasions, and as senator.
“I will forever remain grateful to them for this rare privilege,” he said.
He directed supporters to shut down or repurpose social media platforms operated in his name to promote APC candidates in Yobe and nationwide, saying the move aims to “further unite the party and ensure its victory in the forthcoming elections.”
Mustapha also asked those using his photographs or campaigning for him to stop, noting a decision had been taken and he fully supports it.
He congratulated former Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Mallam Wali, describing him as the preferred choice of party leaders to govern the state.
“I congratulate Alhaji Baba Wali for emerging as the preferred choice of our leaders to lead our dear state, and indeed all our APC candidates in Yobe. I wish them the very best,” Mustapha said.
