ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The race for the Southern Borno senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections has taken a dramatic turn, with emerging plots to unseat incumbent lawmaker Mohammed Ali Ndume triggering tension across the district.
Political groups and stakeholders are now sharply divided, as fresh alliances form and succession battles intensify over who should represent the zone in the next National Assembly.
The situation escalated on Wednesday after the Voice of Savannah Community Association (VSCA) rejected what it described as attempts to impose leadership on the district.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the VSCA, led by Comrade Ibrahim Ezekiel Mamza, warned self-acclaimed stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Sule Gambo, Dr. Hauwa Mai Musa, and Tafu Malla, over what it called a “laughable endorsement” of Abdullahi Askira for the 2027 senatorial contest.
The group expressed outrage that Askira who it alleged opposed the creation of Savannah State is now seeking to represent Southern Borno in the Senate.
According to the association, such ambition is unacceptable to the people of the zone who have agitated for the state’s creation for decades.
Mamza insisted that constituents across the district’s 101 wards, over 1,700 polling units, and nine local government areas have rejected the endorsement.
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He called on Askira and his supporters to publicly apologise over their alleged stance against Savannah State, describing the issue as deeply sensitive among the people.
The group also questioned Askira’s performance in office, claiming there are no visible projects linked to his tenure in the Borno State House of Assembly.
It challenged him to present verifiable achievements, while raising concerns over insecurity in the area and what it described as weak legislative advocacy.
In a related development, the Voice of Displaced Communities of Southern Borno (VDCSB), led by Dr. Bashir Habu, also took a swipe at Askira’s record during the Boko Haram insurgency.
The group demanded accountability over his role during the crisis, when communities in Askira/Uba were reportedly devastated.
“Where was Hon. Askira when our communities were under siege? What concrete steps did he take to support his people?” the group queried.
It further urged him to provide evidence of motions or legislative interventions aimed tackling insurgency-related challenges.
It further urged him to provide evidence of motions or legislative interventions aimed at tackling insurgency-related challenges.
Despite the backlash, indications of shifting political alliances have begun to surface.
Sources revealed that a series of consultative meetings held in Biu, Gwoza, and Shani—attended by political office holders, party elders, and youth leaders—have strengthened calls for a “paradigm shift” in representation.
Backing the agitation, Sule Gambo argued that the demand for power rotation is rooted in fairness and historical precedent.
He recalled how leaders from Askira/Uba once supported the emergence of Senator Abubakar Mahdi from Gwoza, stressing that such arrangement has not been sustained.
Gambo lamented that the senatorial seat has remained in Gwoza for nearly two decades without rotation to areas like Chibok, Damboa, and Askira/Uba.
Also speaking, Tafu Malla defended Askira’s credentials, citing his contributions to job creation and agriculture.
Similarly, Dr. Hauwa Mai Musa emphasised the need for power rotation, insisting that no single locality should dominate the seat for too long.
However, the VSCA reaffirmed its support for Ndume, describing him as a courageous lawmaker who has consistently spoken truth to power.
The group noted that his removal as Chief Whip of the 10th Senate underscored his commitment to defending the interests of his constituents.
“Come 2027, it is our responsibility. Our vote is for Ndume to continue speaking and standing for Southern Borno at the National Assembly,” the group declared.
Although Ndume remains a formidable political force in Southern Borno, the growing mobilisation against him signals possible cracks in his dominance ahead of the 2027 elections.
With power rotation debates, insurgency concerns, and competing alliances shaping the contest, the Southern Borno senatorial race is already shaping up to be one of the fiercest political battles in the North-East.