Zulum Names Former Works Commissioner Mustapha Gubio as Preferred Successor for 2027

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has officially endorsed his immediate past Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engineer Mustapha Gubio, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election. The announcement, which confirms months of political speculation, was made on Tuesday and has immediately begun reshaping the political landscape of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The endorsement was confirmed by the governor’s spokesperson, Malam Dauda Iliya, who described Gubio as the ideal candidate to continue the administration’s legacy. “Yes, Gubio is the anointed candidate of His Excellency who visited him shortly after the purchase of nomination form in Abuja,” Iliya stated. He further elaborated on the reasons for the choice, emphasizing continuity. “Gubio represents continuity. He understands the vision of this administration and has the capacity to build on its achievements,” Iliya added.

The announcement followed a symbolic meeting in Maiduguri, the state capital, where Gubio formally presented his expression of interest and nomination forms to the governor. The event was also attended by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, alongside a crowd of loyal supporters, a gathering widely interpreted as a public consolidation of political backing. This development comes just weeks after Governor Zulum dissolved the State Executive Council in late March. At the time, the Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani, explained that the dissolution was “to provide an enabling environment for any member of the council who may wish to contest elective positions in the forthcoming general elections”.

However, the governor’s choice has set the stage for a potentially fierce contest within the APC. Political observers note that the endorsement may deepen existing cracks in the party, particularly as it contrasts with the interests of other powerful national leaders from the state. “There are clear signs of parallel interests. Both Zulum and Shettima appear to have preferred camps, and that could complicate party unity ahead of the primaries,” a political analyst in Maiduguri noted.

This explicit endorsement marks a shift in the governor’s stance. Just four months ago, in January 2026, Zulum told party stakeholders during a meeting in Maiduguri that he was staying out of the succession race. “I have no candidate for any position, and I do not know who will succeed me. I have entrusted the choice of leaders to Almighty Allah, in accordance with the democratic will of the party members and the people of Borno State,” he had said at the time . His recent actions have effectively changed that position.

As the political realignment intensifies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already set the timeline for the next general election. Party primaries are scheduled to take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026, with the governorship election proper set for February 6, 2027 . Gubio, who managed infrastructure projects across the state before his resignation, is entering the race as the first aspirant to obtain the APC gubernatorial nomination form, positioning him as the early frontrunner backed by the machinery of the sitting governor.