Rebecca Gapsiso, Gombe
Key aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Gombe Central Senatorial District, have intensified consultations across communities and traditional institutions, as political activities gather pace ahead of the 2027 elections in Gombe State.
Leading the campaign for what supporters describe as a “power shift” to the Yamaltu-Deba axis, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Usman Bello, defended the agitation as a democratic and moral demand aimed at giving other parts of Gombe Central the opportunity to produce leadership after decades of dominance by Akko Local Government Area.
Notably, the Gombe Central Senatorial District is made up of Akko and Tamaltu Deba Local Government Areas in Gombe State and the current occupant of the senate seat is former Governor Danjuma Goje, from Akko, who has had four terms in the Senate.
Speaking during consultations at traditional palaces ahead of the APC primaries, Hon. Bello said the overwhelming reception his team received reflected acceptance of their message and grassroots approach to politics.
“We have not expected anything short of what we have received because we believe, as students of politics, you should pursue your ambition by playing the game according to the rules,” said Hon. Bello.
According to him, political aspirations should be marketed directly to the people rather than imposed through influence from political elites.
“You market yourself as a product. It is not about somebody sitting in the comfort of his office and saying he is going to be installed as candidate. We feel we need to go head-on, door-to-door, for the support of the people,” Bello stated.
The lawmaker maintained that inclusiveness and fairness were at the heart of the agitation for power rotation within Gombe Central.
“What is most important is inclusivity. What is important is appreciating the existence of other people. What is equally important is giving other people the opportunity to display their talents. Nobody has a monopoly of knowledge,” he said.
Bello argued that after Akko Local Government had held the senatorial seat for nearly two decades, it was only fair for leadership to shift to other areas within the district.
“While you have two local governments forming a senatorial district, it is only moral and fair that after holding that office for 16 consecutive years, you say to your brothers, ‘Come and try, come and display your talents.’ There is nothing wrong with that,” he stressed.
The APC chieftain also dismissed fears of violence during the party primaries, insisting that popularity at the grassroots remained the ultimate determinant of electoral victory.
Also speaking during the consultations, former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed, promised to prioritise justice, fairness and inclusiveness if elected to represent the senatorial district.
He said the consultations had shown that the people were yearning for a leadership style anchored on collective participation and equal opportunity.
“Justice, fair play and inclusiveness. Not an entity. Everybody is a stakeholder. Everybody is going to be part of this. There is no monopoly,” he said.
Responding to questions over his relatively quiet political profile in recent years, the retired police officer explained that he had spent most of his life in public service before venturing fully into politics.
“I have been a police officer and I retired 35 years ago. In 2003, I contested for the House of Representatives. I bought my form, paid and contested,” he recalled.
Ahmed expressed optimism about his political chances, describing the current period as divinely ordained.
“I am sure this is the time God has destined. Whatever God has at hand, nobody can stop you,” he stated.
He also reaffirmed his loyalty to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Muhammadu Yahaya.
“Absolute commitment, absolute loyalty to the cause and justice and for the betterment of this country,” Ahmed said.
On his chances at the APC primaries, he simply stated: “By the grace and power of God, God will do everything for me.”
Meanwhile, another APC aspirant, Inuwa Garba, projected confidence that the APC would sweep all elective positions in Gombe Central and across the state in the 2027 elections.
Garba said ongoing consultations across the district were aimed at mobilising support for the party and consolidating the achievements of the current administration.
“By God’s grace, we are all doing our best to make sure that all APC seats in the senatorial zone in Nigeria are won in the 2027 elections,” he said.
“That is why we traversed the length and breadth of Gombe Central with the hope that we awaken the support we got from our electorates, by our leader, the Governor of Gombe State, and all stakeholders to participate in the upcoming primaries and affirmation exercise,” he added.
Garba said the reception received during the consultations reflected the people’s desire for what he described as purposeful representation.
“You can see how we were received in all the places we visited. Our people are happy and are yearning that they want our kind of representation,” he stated.
He described politics and governance as collective responsibilities requiring strategic leadership and cooperation between government and the people.
“Leadership, governance, democracy and partisan politics are all a conglomeration of strategic and purposeful leadership,” he said.
Praising Governor Yahaya’s administration, Garba described Gombe as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states due to strategic governance and security management.
“If you can see what the governor of Gombe State is doing, you will have no reason to refuse to key into the process, projects and programmes being undertaken in Gombe State,” he said.
According to him, the APC primaries would be peaceful and credible, revealing that his own candidacy had already received broad consensus support within the party.
“Like me, I have no primaries. Mine is affirmation because the governor intervened on my behalf and on behalf of my constituents, and they all agreed,” he disclosed.
“It is credible and that is good for democracy because understanding is the basis of any development,” Garba concluded.
