Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members who lost in the party’s primaries to forgive past grievances and unite behind the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Zulum made the appeal on Sunday after returning to Maiduguri from Canada and the United States, where he received a Pan-African top leadership award.

He was received at the airport by APC executives, federal and state lawmakers, government officials and supporters.

Addressing the gathering, the governor urged aspirants who contested the party’s primaries at various levels to accept the outcomes and support the APC.

“For those who contested the party primaries, from governorship down to the House of Assembly, if we offended anyone, he should forgive us,” Zulum said.

“Take it as a will of God, because it’s only God that gives power to whom He wishes. The choice is from God, and no one has the might to fight God’s choice. We love every party member equally.”

He also appealed to members dissatisfied with his administration to let go of their grievances.

“I’m appealing to you, whoever holds a grudge that we fell short in meeting his expectations should forgive us. We are human, and where we erred, I assure you that the incoming governor, Mustapha Gubio, will execute [the remaining tasks],” he said.

Zulum maintained that his administration had governed fairly and that any unfulfilled commitments were not deliberate.

“Throughout the over seven years we spent in administration, we have not cheated anyone. Whatever we had not achieved was not of our making, but we tried our best,” he stated.

The governor described the APC as Borno’s dominant political force and urged members to support the party at all levels in 2027, from the presidency to the 27-member State House of Assembly.

He also cited Borno’s representation at the federal level, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, and said political unity could help the state attract more federal projects and interventions.

Zulum warned that members who refuse to support the APC would not benefit from the incoming administration, while expressing confidence in the party’s victory.

He thanked party stakeholders and elected officials for their support and promised additional empowerment programmes for women and youth groups within the week.

The governor also reiterated his commitment to completing outstanding projects and programmes across Borno’s 27 local government areas.