By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

The Emir of Biu, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mustapha Umar Mustapha II, alongside over 20 District Heads in the Emirate and stakeholders have backed the nomination of Alhaji Ali Isa Abdullahi as the Deputy Governatorial candidate/Running Mate to Engineer Mustapha Gubio who is the Gubernatorial Candidate unanimously endorsed on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State for the 2027 general elections.

Before his nomination, Abdullahi was the Director-General of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The Emir dismissed speculations circulating in the Social Media space that Ali Isa Abdullahi is not an indigene of Biu Emirate.

The Monarch made the endorsement on Saturday at Multi Purpose Hall, Government House, Maiduguri, during a Stakeholders Meeting comprising of traditional rulers, party faithful from Southern Borno Senatorial District.

The meeting was presided over by Governor Babagana Zulum with alot of APC top notch from the three Senatorial District of Borno Central, North and South in attendance.

He said: “We are here at the Government House Your Excellency to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you for choosing one of our own, Alhaji Ali Isa Abdullahi as the Deputy Governatorial candidate for Borno come 2027 general elections.

“We are behind you 100%. The good choice you took is a welcome development, and we have no doubt that our Son is capable to be paired with the APC Governorship Candidate to consolidate on the gains and achievements recorded under your good leadership as you complete your second tenure come May 2027.

“We want to also use this opportunity to dismiss unnecessary speculations that Ali Isa Abdullahi is not an indigene of Biu.

“As the Emir of Biu, my house is not far away from the family house of Ali Isa Abdullahi located in Tashan Danfulani, we have been together with their parents, siblings and relations for decades ago”. The Emir stated.

He therefore called on the people of the Emirate and by extension, the good people of Borno State to desist from relying on false information mostly obtained from the Social Media which he said, is detrimental to unity, social cohesion and development for Borno’s fragile peace.

In his remarks, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum thanked the Emir and all other stakeholders for finding time and also used their resources to come to Maiduguri to offer their collective appreciation for endorsing their Son as running mate to Engineer Mustapha Gubio.

“I am highly delighted your Royal Highness and all other stakeholders for finding time to come all the way from your comfort zones to offer your collective appreciation to me and the Government of Borno state for endorsing your Son (Alhaji Ali Isa Abdullahi) as running mate to our Gubernatorial Candidate, Engineer Mustapha Gubio.

“It is God that give power to whom He wish, and therefore, let me use this medium to call on the people of the Emirate and Borno State as a whole to unite and give everyone their maximum support and cooperation to ensure victory for APC from the top to bottom come 2027 general elections”. Zulum stated.

The meeting was attended by former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Adamu Yuguda Dibal, Senators Ali Ndume and Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno South and Central), Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, Executive Chairman of Hawul local government area, Hon Yusuf Mamman a d his count parts from Biu, Bayo, Shani, Kwaya Kusar, Bayo among other party leaders.