Gombe Central APC senatorial candidate Mohammed Ahmed, is facing fresh challenges over his emergence as flag bearera.
Senior party leaders have rejected the disputed primary, while renewed public scrutiny of his alleged involvement in the 2009 killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf complicates his 2027 campaign.
Ahmed, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police is set to contest the seat currently being occupied by Senator Danjuma Goje who lost the ticket to the former police officer.
Sahara Reporters quoted Senator Goje and other key political figures had rejected the primary as describing the process as “unlawful, exclusionary and flawed”.
“The purported election only featured the government and their favoured candidates allowed to participate and did not include all duly recognised aspirants within the party.
“The provisions of the Electoral Act have clearly stipulated two lawful methods for the nomination of candidates by political parties for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These methods must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure legality and transparency in the electoral process,” Senator Goje reportedly lamented.
He noted that several aspirants had already purchased Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms but were allegedly excluded from the primaries.
During his time in service, Ahmed was named among officers linked to the 2009 alleged extra judicial killing of Boko Haram first leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri, his opponents alleged.
Ahmed, then an Assistant Commissioner of Police attached to the Special Investigation Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, along with the other suspects were tried on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder, over the killing of Yusuf and his followers, Sahara Reporters reported.
Although they were later acquitted, his opponents have reportedly raised questions about his past involvement and what it means for representation, trust and human rights standards in the Red Chamber.