Inuwa Inaugurates APC Reconciliation Committee, Seeks 1 Million Votes for Tinubu in Gombe

Inuwa Inaugurates APC Reconciliation Committee, Seeks 1 Million Votes for Tinubu in Gombe

By Auwal Umar, Gombe

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has inaugurated a reconciliation committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, to resolve disputes arising from the All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses and primary elections, urging members to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The governor said the committee was established to reconcile aggrieved party members, aspirants and stakeholders, describing unity as essential to the APC’s chances in the forthcoming elections.

“Like every other human endeavour, we are bound to make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. Even though we believe we have done our best, if our best is not good enough, we must allow those who can add value to the system to stabilise and normalise it.

He noted that the party had concluded its congresses, primary elections and local government elections, saying the focus had now shifted to strengthening internal cohesion and preparing for the 2027 campaigns.

“Everything is back on track. The task before us is to ensure that we complete the final lap of this administration with a robust team that will lay the foundation for the next government,” he said.

Addressing the committee chairman, Dr Jatau, the governor recalled his role in leading a similar reconciliation exercise after the 2023 elections and expressed confidence that his experience would help the committee achieve better results.

“You were chairman in 2023, and you still remember what you did, how you did it and the results. This time, add more to what you did before so that we do not allow any rancour to divide our party or distract us from achieving the progress we seek.

He described members of the committee as seasoned politicians, administrators and public servants with decades of experience, expressing confidence in their ability to resolve lingering grievances and strengthen party cohesion.

The governor also set ambitious electoral targets for the APC, expressing confidence that the party would record a clean sweep in the 2027 elections.

“I don’t expect anything less than one million votes for President Bola Tinubu. I don’t expect anything less than all three Senate seats, all six House of Representatives seats, and all 24 seats in the State House of Assembly,” he said.

According to the governor, the committee is expected to identify and document grievances arising from the party’s congresses and primaries, engage aggrieved members, aspirants, and stakeholders; mediate between contending groups, promote dialogue, and advise the State Working Committee on integrating reconciled members into the party.

He said the committee would also ensure that all reconciliation efforts align with the APC Constitution and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Governor Yahaya further directed members to maintain strict confidentiality throughout their assignment.

“Maintain strict confidentiality in all your proceedings. There are enemies outside the party and, unfortunately, there may also be enemies within. You must protect the house you are building,” he said.

He urged the committee to commence work immediately and conclude its assignment within the shortest possible time to enable the party to focus on campaigns and preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman and Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, acknowledged the enormous responsibility placed on the committee, describing reconciliation within a political party as one of the most difficult assignments.

Drawing from his experience leading a similar committee after the 2023 elections, Dr Jatau recalled the numerous challenges encountered during the exercise, including distrust among party stakeholders and disputes over delegates.

“Having participated in the 2023 exercise, I can confidently say that this is a very difficult assignment. We encountered all kinds of challenges. There was hardly anything we did not hear during that process,” he said.

He recounted an incident where a party member unknowingly paid money to several people who falsely claimed to be authentic delegates before eventually locating the genuine one.

“At one point, a woman came to us in tears. She explained that she had been shown four different people, each introduced as the authentic delegate, and she gave money to each of them. By the time she was finally directed to the real delegate, she had exhausted all the money she had. Those experiences showed just how challenging reconciliation and party organisation can be,” he said.

Dr Jatau said political reconciliation was particularly difficult because party members often have divergent interests, expectations, and loyalties.

He acknowledged that some members of the newly inaugurated committee also had personal grievances, stressing that they would first reconcile among themselves before reaching out to others.

“I am also aware that even within the committee itself, some members have grievances. That means we must first reconcile ourselves before we can successfully reconcile others,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the deputy governor expressed confidence in the calibre of personalities appointed to the committee, describing them as respected, experienced, and committed party leaders capable of delivering on their mandate.

He recalled the demanding nature of the previous reconciliation exercise, saying committee members often worked late into the night to consult stakeholders across the state.

Dr Jatau also commended the committee’s secretary for his role during the 2023 reconciliation process, saying his patience and wisdom helped calm tensions and contributed significantly to the committee’s success.

He assured Governor Yahaya and APC members that the committee would work tirelessly to ensure genuine reconciliation ahead of the elections.

“We will do everything within our ability to ensure the success of our party and work towards APC’s victory from top to bottom in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

The deputy governor urged committee members to commence work without delay, noting that time was limited.

“Mr Secretary, we should immediately begin planning our first meeting because time is not on our side,” he said.