Gombe PDP Governorship Aspirants Warn Against Allowing Pantami Into Primaries

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Four governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State have cautioned the party leadership against any alleged move to allow former APC governorship aspirant Isa Ali Pantami to participate in the party’s ongoing governorship primaries.

The aspirants warned that such a decision could violate democratic principles and expose the party to serious legal challenges ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The warning was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Usman Aliyu Garry and Monica Kaltho on May 24, 2026.

According to the aspirants, they had earlier agreed to allow the leadership of the party to choose one among them as the consensus governorship candidate in the interest of unity and party stability.

They explained that the decision was reached out of respect for the leadership of former governor and PDP leader in the state, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, as well as the State Executive Committee, local government party chairmen and members of the Elders Committee.

The communiqué stated that all the aspirants signed a written undertaking committing themselves to abide by the final decision of the party leadership regarding the emergence of the governorship candidate.

However, the aspirants expressed concern over reports alleging that Pantami, who participated in the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress on May 21, 2026, was making efforts to defect to the PDP in order to contest in its governorship primaries.

They argued that the law does not permit an aspirant who had already contested and secured votes in another party’s primary election to switch parties and participate in the same electoral process elsewhere.

While acknowledging that the PDP remains open to welcoming new members, the aspirants maintained that any such defection should not interfere with a primary process that is already at an advanced stage.

They further urged the party leadership to avoid actions capable of undermining the rule of law or creating avoidable legal disputes that could affect the party’s chances in the forthcoming election.

The aspirants warned that failure to handle the situation carefully could trigger litigation from aggrieved party members and opposition parties.

“As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine,” the communiqué concluded.

APC Primary Committee Declares Gombe Senatorial Polls Credible, Transparent

By Auwal Umar, Gombe

The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election committee in Gombe State has described the party’s 2026 senatorial primary elections as peaceful, transparent and credible, declaring Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, retired DCP Mohammed Ahmed and Jerry Joseph Damara as winners in their respective districts.

The chairman of the committee, Mallam Labiru Musa Kafur, stated this on Tuesday during a press briefing on the official outcome of the APC senatorial primaries conducted across the state on Monday.

Mr Kafur stated that the exercise followed the National Working Committee’s directives for a direct primary system, allowing grassroots members to participate directly.

“The exercise across all 11 local government areas was remarkably peaceful, orderly and harmonious, serving as a testament to the democratic maturity of our party faithful,” he said.

According to him, strict accreditation measures were introduced to ensure transparency and credibility throughout the exercise.

“The committee enforced a thorough and mandatory voter accreditation process beginning at 8:00 a.m. at designated ward centers. Voting eligibility was strictly tied to the presentation of a valid APC membership card,” he said.

Mr Kafur added that the measure helped to protect the integrity of the election and prevent infiltration by non-members.

Announcing the results, he said Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya emerged as the APC candidate for the Gombe North Senatorial District after securing 131,009 affirmation votes.

For Gombe Central Senatorial District, retired DCP Mohammed Ahmed polled 89,415 valid votes to emerge as the winner, while Jerry Joseph Damara secured 56,687 votes to clinch the party’s ticket for Gombe South Senatorial District.

Mr Kafur stated that designated returning officers made the official declarations at the various zonal collation centres immediately after the conclusion of collation.

“Having satisfied all necessary requirements and scored the highest number of valid votes cast in their respective districts, these winners were rightfully declared on the field immediately after collation,” he said.

“The committee fully stands by these decentralised field declarations which confirm them as the official flag bearers of the APC for the upcoming elections,” he added.

The committee chairman commended the Gombe State government, party leaders, security agencies and journalists for ensuring what he described as a credible democratic process.

“We extend our profound appreciation to the executive governor of Gombe State, the state party leadership, security agencies and members of the press for ensuring a transparent, highly credible and world-class democratic exercise,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the peaceful conduct of the primaries would strengthen unity within the party ahead of the general elections.

PDP Endorses Ayala as Sole Candidate for Balanga-Billiri Reps’ Seat

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Balanga-Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State has endorsed Barrister Rambi Ibrahim Ayala as its sole candidate for the House of Representatives seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was formalised during an affirmation meeting held at the party’s office in Billiri on Saturday, where party leaders and supporters gathered to ratify his candidature.

Speaking at the event, the PDP chairman in Billiri Local Government Area, Hon. Lewi Lasare, who served as returning officer for the exercise, said Mr Ayala was the only aspirant who purchased the party’s nomination form for the contest.

“We are here to affirm the only person who bought the nomination form for the Balanga-Billiri federal constituency race under the PDP. The only aspirant known to us, as communicated by the state office, is Rambi Ayala,” he said.

The PDP chairman in Balanga LGA, Alhaji Ali Bwangal, described Mr Ayala as a committed and resilient politician, noting that contesting under an opposition platform required determination and sacrifice.

Also speaking, the party’s deputy publicity secretary in the state, Haruna Hussaini Lankangle, said Mr Ayala automatically emerged as the PDP flagbearer for the constituency by virtue of being the sole aspirant.

At the event, party leaders raised Mr Ayala’s hands before supporters in a symbolic presentation of his endorsement as the party’s consensus candidate.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ayala thanked party leaders and supporters for the confidence reposed in him and called for unity within the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

He urged members to forgive past grievances and work together to strengthen the party in the constituency.

The PDP candidate also pledged to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election, describing the task ahead as a collective responsibility for party members.

Mr. Ayala further declared support for the senator representing Gombe South, Anthony Siyako Yaro, by promising to mobilise support across the zone for his re-election bid.

“We have no reason not to support our incumbent senator. We will mobilise support across every part of Gombe South to ensure his return to the National Assembly,” he said.

He also commended the PDP leadership for maintaining what he described as fairness and balance in zoning political offices within the constituency.

According to him, after Balanga held the House of Representatives seat for about 20 years, zoning the position to Billiri reflected the party’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

Mr Ayala also paid tribute to former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, describing him as a strong supporter of the constituency and the Gombe South zone.

The event attracted party stakeholders, loyalists and supporters from across the Balanga and Billiri local government areas.