A coalition of stakeholders from opposition political parties in Gombe State has decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defectors, who were from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party pledged their allegiance to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and the governorship aspiration of Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna.

The group said its decision is based on a review of results of primary elections held by their former political parties.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Prof Sulaiman Dankande, Nura Abba, Abdullah Amtai, Dedan Mela and Murtala Usman Dukku, said that members resolved to join the APC and work for the emergence of Gwamna as governor in 2027.

The defectors were formally received into the APC by the party chairman in Gombe Local Government Area, Idris Saleh, it was learnt.

Saleh handed them APC membership cards and welcomed them to the ruling party.

The coalition members said their move to the APC was premised on political conviction and the need to align with a platform that could better serve the interest of the state.

They also vowed to work for the success of Tinubu and Gwamna in the next general elections.

The primary elections in their former parties, the outcome of which influenced the decision to look for a new political platform, they said.

They said the development had compelled them to review their political direction before 2027.

After wide consultations among their members and supporters, they agreed to join the APC and support its candidates at national and state levels, they said.

The defection is expected to contribute to the wave of political movements already happening in Gombe State as the parties prepare for the next election cycle.

Meanwhile, former APC National Youth Leader, Sadiq Abubakar has emerged the governorship candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe State.

Abubakar announced his emergence soon after winning the party’s governorship primary election.

His victory comes just weeks after he quit the APC over economic hardship and discontent with policies of the ruling party.

Abubakar said his decision to join the NDC was born out of his desire to be part of a political platform that guarantees transparent and credible primaries elections.

He said the party gave him the opportunity to pursue his political ambition and render service to the people of Gombe State.

According to him, his move to the NDC was also in line with his commitment to contribute to the political development of the state.

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Four governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State have rejected an alleged move to bring in former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, into the party’s governorship primary race ahead of the 2027 elections.

The aspirants, Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Hon. Usman Aliyu Garry and Mrs. Monica Kaltho, made their position known in a communique issued after an emergency meeting held on Sunday in Gombe.

They said there were plans to “smuggle” Pantami into the PDP after he had already participated in the governorship primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on May 21, 2026.

The aspirants argued that the Electoral Act and democratic principles do not allow an aspirant to defect from one political party to another and still participate in the same electoral process after already contesting and winning votes in another party’s primaries, the communiqué said.

“We deem it necessary to make our position known following the rumoured attempt by an aspirant, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, who participated in the recently concluded governorship primaries of the APC, to defect to the PDP with the sole aim of contesting in our party’s governorship primaries,” the communiqué stated.

The aspirants stated that they “condemn in the strongest terms” any alleged attempt to allow Pantami to take part in the PDP governorship primary, saying that such a move could expose the party to avoidable legal battles.

They also cautioned that any move that could undermine the rule of law could invite litigation from aggrieved party members and opposition parties.

The communiqué also disclosed that the four aspirants had unanimously agreed to allow the PDP leadership in Gombe to select one from among them as the party’s consensus candidate for the governorship election.

They said the decision was taken out of respect for party leadership, especially for the former Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, whom they described as the leader of the party in the state, as well as the PDP structure in the 11 local government areas and the party elders committee.

The aspirants, while reiterating that the PDP remains open to new members, said they are strongly opposed to the inclusion of anyone who had already taken part in another party’s governorship primary.

“We welcome every well-meaning individual into the PDP but we are strongly opposed to any attempt to drag such a person into the ongoing PDP gubernatorial primaries which has reached an advanced stage,” the communiqué added.

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President Bola Tinubu has won the All Progressives Congress presidential primary election in Gombe State by a wide margin, scoring 450,517 votes.

Stanley Osifo, Tinubu’s only opponent in the exercise, did not get a vote in any of the 11 local government areas of the state.

The results were announced at APC Square by the exercise co-ordinator and Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.

Yahaya said the figures were submitted by the primary election collation officers in the 11 local government areas.

Addressing party officials, stakeholders and supporters during the collation exercise, the governor said the primary was peaceful and in accordance with the guidelines of the party.

He said the results from Gombe State would be sent to Abuja for final collation and official declaration by the APC national leadership.

The breakdown of the results showed that Tinubu polled 5,873 votes in Akko, 23,307 in Balanga and 23,675 in Billiri.

He won Dukku with 24,964 votes and Funakaye with 22,761 votes. Gombe Local Government Area delivered the highest number of votes to Tinubu with 112,414 votes.

Other results showed Tinubu got 22,998 votes in Kaltungo, 25,305 in Kwami and 21,388 in Nafada.

He polled 12,765 votes in Shongom and 75,067 votes in Yamaltu/Deba. Yahaya revealed that the state had 550,516 registered APC members.

He praised party officials, delegates and members for their peaceful behaviour and commitment to the democratic process.

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Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has said that he would not tolerate any act that could threaten peace in the state ahead of the forthcoming primary elections.

Speaking on a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, the governor stated the decision was reached after disagreements among some aspirants despite efforts by the APC Elders’ Committee and the party’s State Executive Committee to build consensus around endorsed candidates.

The governor said that members of the APC with the backing of the APC Elders’ Committee and the State Executive Committee made spirited attempts to explore the consensus option some weeks ago.

The former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, has opposed the consensus arrangement that favoured Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna and the Senator representing Gombe Central District, Muhammadu Danjuma Goje and protested the arrangement that removed him after 16 years in service.

“The party will now proceed to direct primaries in accordance with Section 87(2) of the Electoral Act,” Governor Yahaya said.

“As political activities pick up, my priority is to protect peace and stability in the State,” said the governor who will enter the last year of his administration on May 29.

Yahaya said that the conduct of the party primaries was critical because of its implication for democracy, social cohesion and internal stability in the state. He warned that security agencies will not tolerate attempts by politicians or their supporters to use the primaries to cause trouble.

“There are some unpatriotic politicians and conflict entrepreneurs who want to hide behind the forthcoming primary elections to cause chaos and conflict,” he said.

The governor added that anybody found culpable in disrupting public peace before, during or after the primaries will face the full weight of the law assuring that anybody found wanting will not go unpunished.

The Governor pleaded with political stakeholders to place the interest of the State above personal ambitions, recalling that in spite of the security challenges confronting parts of the North-East, Gombe has remained relatively peaceful since its creation in 1996.

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Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has blocked Senator Danjuma Goje from getting another Senate ticket, endorsing Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

It was gathered that the Governor’s decision was announced at a stakeholders’ meeting, amidst the long-standing political clash between Inuwa and Goje since the 2023 elections.

The party also published a list of consensus candidates for other positions. Mohammed Ahmadu Deba is adopted for Gombe Central Senate, Jerry Damara for the Gombe South, Inuwa Yahaya is to run for Gombe North Senate.

The House of Representatives candidates are Usman Bello Kumo (Akko), Inuwa Garba (Yamaltu/Deba), Ali Isa (Balanga/Billiri), Fatima Binta Bello (Kaltungo/Shongom), Saddam Bello (Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye) and Jamilu Shabewa (Dukku/Nafada).

Goje, a four-term senator seeking re-election, was recently part of a Senate delegation that met President Bola Tinubu to reportedly demand automatic tickets for lawmakers but the request was said to have been rejected.

Meanwhile, Goje has also denied reports that he defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying that the membership card being circulated online is not his.

Goje disclosed this through a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Ahmed Isa Kashere, reacting to a fake ADC membership card making the rounds on social media.

Goje said the so-called membership card was the handiwork of ingrates who wanted to tarnish his image and portray him in bad light.

He said he is still a proud and committed founding member of the APC, committed to promoting its ideals in Gombe State and the country.

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Senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, Muhammad Danjuma Goje has opposed the consensus arrangement adopted by Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was gathered that the stakeholders of the party adopted the retired DCP, Mohammed Ahmadu Deba as the APC consensus candidate for Goje’s seat at a meeting presided over by the Governor, Inuwa Yahaya on Sunday.

In a statement issued by his aide, Barr. Saidu Muazu Kumo, Goje, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate, faulted the arrangement.

The senator said that the so-called consensus meeting had only the governor and a few hopefuls.

“The meeting did not have all duly recognised aspirants within the party,” he said.

He said several aspirants had validly bought their expression of interest and nomination forms but were not part of the consensus arrangement held at the Government House.

Electoral Act cites Goje
“The provisions of the Electoral Act on how political parties can nominate candidates for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections are very clear,” Goje said.

“The legality and transparency of the electoral process requires strict adherence to these methods,” he said.

Kumo said the nomination process should be through direct primaries monitored by INEC and relevant security agencies on a date to be fixed by the party in line with the electoral framework.

The senator said any attempt to impose candidates on the party was not in conformity with the existing electoral laws in Nigeria.

He argued that all recognised aspirants should be allowed to participate in a transparent nomination process.

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The Gombe State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has debunked reports that the residence of a factional leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala, was set ablaze.

The clarification was issued by the public relations officer of the command, Buhari Abdullahi, as reports emerged that Bala’s family house in Gombe was razed.

The Police have described the report as false and urged members of the public to ignore it.

The Gombe State Police Command wishes to refute false information that Mr Nafiu Bala’s house was set ablaze in Gombe State.

“The Command states that the report is false as there is no such incident that has been recorded anywhere in the State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Umar Ahmed Chuso, mnips, fwc, psc(+), is urging the general public to disregard this misinformation and remain calm, as the Command is committed to ensuring peace and security throughout Gombe State.”

On his part, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, said neither David Mark nor Nafiu Bala has any right to the leadership of the party.

Kachikwu said this on Thursday in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on the leadership dispute in the ADC, it was reported.

The apex court had ordered Mark, the factional national chairman of the ADC and Bala, a former national vice-chairman of the party to return to the Federal High Court for hearing and determination of issues arising from the dispute.

Kachikwu said in a statement that the Supreme Court’s decision to vacate an earlier order of the Court of Appeal asking parties to maintain the status quo did not validate any faction.

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Gombe State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared its complete support for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection by endorsing him as its only candidate in the 2027 presidential contest.

The endorsement came after a motion made at the party’s State Congress in Gombe on Tuesday by Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, and seconded by Rt. Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly.

A huge number of party supporters flocked to the Gombe Township Stadium in Gombe, the state capital, to watch the candidates who won the congresses be affirmed and sworn in.

Speaking at the event, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, the governor of Gombe State, stated that President Tinubu’s reforms have brought economic stability to the country and that the APC administration has put Nigeria on the path to sustainable economic transformation.

Despite the initial negative impact of the reforms, the governor claimed that they still address the more than 40 years of indecision regarding the elimination of subsidies, which became inevitable when the current administration took office.

Inuwa Yahaya expressed gratitude to the President for his leadership during a pivotal moment in the country’s political history. “We will deliver Gombe to APC from top to bottom in 2027 thanks to what we have done here, where everyone is involved.” As the APC speaks, Mr. President can feel secure knowing that we are working hard.

“Yes, there were difficult choices made regarding subsidies, foreign exchange, and other matters; these choices were unavoidable despite the difficulties, but as we can see, things are getting back to normal. Some people initially misunderstood this, but as we can see now, it was necessary for the country to advance at the time. The governor addressed the enthusiastic party members at Gombe Township Stadium, saying, “It has brought prosperity, which is why we could fund projects and deliver on campaign promises.”

Earlier, Hon. Kumo, who led a group of lawmakers to the podium, listed the many accomplishments of the APC governments in Gombe under Governor Inuwa Yahaya and at the federal level under President Tinubu over the past two years, emphasizing that Nigeria under the APC is headed toward greatness.

“We can tell you that a lot of transformations have taken place and a lot more is on the way, as parliamentarians with deeper insight into what is going on in government,” Kumo stated.

The state governor’s exemplary leadership style was praised by the House Chief Whip, who also urged party loyalists to support the party by voting for Gombe to join the APC in the upcoming elections.

Earlier, Dr. Danjuma Dabo, Chairman of the APC Congress Committee for Gombe State, praised the governor’s leadership style. He claimed that the state’s ward, local, and state government levels’ peaceful and rancour-free congresses are unmistakable proof of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s strong leadership.

By reaching a consensus, you made our task easier. In advance of our task, you have already screened based on skill, loyalty, and character. As a result, we will make sure that the affirmation is carried out in accordance with party norms as mandated by law. We also saw that everywhere we went, there were no opposing voices.

Dr. Dabo listed the names of State Congress members who had been elected and confirmed the candidates’ election to the party’s State Executive through a voice vote.

Additionally, he praised the party members for their maturity throughout the exercise from the ward to the state level, pointing out that peace and advancement are ensured where justice and equity rule.

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Three mega schools in Gombe State will be built with six billion naira allocated by the federal government.

This was announced by Regional Development Minister Alhaji Uba Ahmadu in Kumo, the Akko Local Government Area headquarters, during the opening of a 250-bed hostel built by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

According to the minister, the NEDC will build the three schools.

The three mega schools would be situated in Dadin Kowa (Gombe Central Senatorial District), Dukku (Gombe North Senatorial District), and Kaltungo (Gombe South Senatorial District), according to the News Agency of Nigeria, or NAN.

The minister claims that the intervention is a component of a larger plan to improve the appeal, accessibility, and competitiveness of education, especially in areas that have faced years of developmental difficulties.

In order to close the educational gap between the Northeast and other regions of the nation and catch up to national standards, he emphasized that education is still crucial.

Ahmadu stated that the federal government is committed to creating cutting-edge learning environments that motivate students and enhance academic performance.

The mega schools, according to NAN, have all the necessary facilities and amenities, including good student housing, which the minister said would greatly improve students’ focus and academic performance because of the convenient and encouraging environment.

Ahmadu also praised the Gombe State Government’s efforts and praised its cooperation with the NEDC in keeping education in the state accessible and appealing to all prospective students.

He characterized the collaboration as an example of regional progress and sustainable educational development.

According to NAN, mega schools in Nigeria are state-led projects aimed at constructing sizable, contemporary, and fully furnished educational facilities. These facilities frequently include ICT labs, libraries, and classrooms intended to improve the standard of instruction and infrastructure.

The goal of these programs is to give thousands of students—including IDPs and orphans—safe learning environments, especially in Northern Nigeria.

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