By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has suffered another setback following the defection of its chairmen in Kwami and Nafada Local Government Areas to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors, Alhaji Idris Abubakar Yayayi of Kwami and Alhaji Yusuf Isa Jigawa-Nafada, announced their departure from the opposition party after separate meetings with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

The meetings were facilitated by Senator Usman Bayero Nafada, Coordinating Patron of the Gombe APC Campaign Council.

In a move to formalise their decision, both politicians have submitted resignation letters to their respective PDP ward chairmen, bringing their membership of the opposition party to an end.

The two former council chairmen also pledged to move their political structures, grassroots networks and mobilisation teams into the APC, assuring the ruling party of their commitment to its activities at all levels.

During their separate meetings with the governor, they reportedly commended his leadership and expressed their willingness to contribute to the APC’s political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Welcoming the defectors, Governor Yahaya expressed confidence that their decision to join the APC would strengthen the party’s structures in Kwami and Nafada and expand its grassroots engagement across the two local government areas.

Their defection comes amid political realignments in Gombe State as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.