Yahaya/Goje rift and Gombe APC’s road to 2027

By Hajara Leman (NAN)

For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, the road to 2027 appears to be bumpy and tortuous. This is not unconnected with the bitter feud between Gov. Yahaya Inuwa and Sen. Danjuma Goje which is tearing the party apart and possibly narrowing its chances of retaining the state in the next election cycle.

Reports indicate that the rift between the governor and Goje, representing Gombe Central Senatorial District has created a tense atmosphere, not only within the senatorial district but also in the entire state.

At the centre of the crisis, according to reports, is the battle for the soul of the senatorial district, occasioned by surreptitious moves to ease Goje out of district and replace him with another candidate.

Historically, Gombe Central, which is made up of Akko and Yamaltu/Deba local government areas, remains a very critical area in the state’s political matrix.

Goje, a former governor of the state who is from Akko local government area, has been representing the senatorial district in the upper legislative chamber since 2011.

Besides, the face-off between the two political gladiators is said to have emanated from the struggle for the leadership of the ruling APC in the state.

Although Yahaya served as Commissioner for Finance during Goje’s time as governor, the reported attempt by Goje to become the leader of APC did not go down well with the governor.

Yahaya was said to have insisted on being the leader of the party in the state, being the sitting governor.

Part of the governor’s arguments was that his leadership of the party was in line with the APC tradition which automatically confers leadership on a sitting governor in any state where the party is ruling.

Goje was, however, said to have disagreed with Yahaya, insisting on becoming the APC leader in the state, with the latter vehemently voicing his disagreement.

This has since exacerbated the conflict, thus polarising the party in the state, even though Yahaya, as the governor, appears to have stronger control of the party.

Consequent upon the raging feud, Goje has reduced his involvement in political activities, while he seldomly attends major political meetings in the state.

The situation has also generated tension in Gombe Central senatorial district, as some stakeholders from Yamaltu/Deba local government area are clamouring that they must produce the party’s candidate for the district in 2027.

They argued that Goje, who hails from Akko council area, should step down, having been representing the district since 2011.

Expectedly, supporters of both sides have now taken different positions, leading to tension within the party and among stakeholders in two local government areas.

Recently, a group from Yamaltu/Deba local government visited the governor, demanding for the senatorial seat to be moved to the council area.

The group included the member representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency, members of the State House of Assembly and traditional rulers from Yamaltu and Deba communities.

The stakeholders argued that the seat has stayed in Akko local government area for a long time and that fairness and equity should be considered in sharing political positions within the senatorial district.

Similarly, another group from Akko council area also expressed the same sentiment, saying that for fairness, the senatorial seat should be properly decided.

The group, including the member representing Akko Federal Constituency, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, traditional rulers from Akko, Gona and Pindiga emirates, pledged that they would support any decision taken by the governor.

Meanwhile, some grassroots politicians from Akko and supporters are backing Goje’s continuity beyond 2027.

One of the supporters is Prof. Mustapha Yahaya of Federal University, Kashere, who expressed the support of many people in the area for Goje’s re-election in 2027.

According to him, the senator is known for his experience and good representation.

“Over the years, he (Goje) has brought development, spoken strongly for his people and made clear impact in Gombe and beyond,” he said.

Yahaya also stressed the need for keeping experienced lawmakers in the National Assembly.

“Good lawmaking needs experience, knowledge and strong connections, qualities that Sen. Goje has built over time.

“The 2023 presidential and national assembly elections showed weaker performance by APC. It lost two out of the three senate seats and five out of six the House of Representatives seats.

“The only wins were in Gombe Central where Sen. Goje and a House of Representatives member from his area kept their seats.

“Gov. Inuwa Yahaya performed poorly, as APC lost in his polling unit, ward, local government and across Gombe North Senatorial District in the 2023 elections.

“During the presidential campaign, the governor did not involve some experienced leaders like Sen. Goje which might have affected the party’s performance,” he said.

Yet, another group from Yamaltu/Deba supported Goje continuing in office, saying he has shown commitment to development and, therefore, deserves to keep serving.

But speaking during the visit of the Akko delegation, the governor said that elected officials could either earn another term through good performance and loyalty to the party or lose public trust through poor representation and actions against the party.

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Yahaya attributed APC’s poor performance in parts of Gombe Central to what he called the actions Goje currently representing the zone.

He alleged that the senator worked against the party’s success, including the victory of President Bola Tinubu, in his polling unit and environs.

The governor further stated that the senator’s actions led to disciplinary measures by APC in his ward, which were later confirmed at the local government and state levels.

“As governor and leader of APC in Gombe State, I will always take decisions that reflect the true wishes of our people, in the overall interest of peace, unity and brotherhood,” he stated.

A Gombe-based political analyst, Mr Cliff Stanley, however, does not see anything extra-ordinary in the emergence of different support groups, saying it is normal in politics.

According to him, politics is driven by interests while alliances can change over time, adding that people and groups can support whatever benefits them.

“Some groups want to keep the current political arrangement because it benefits them, while others are pushing for new representation to gain more influence,” he stated.

Stanley also said that such political contests usually involve experienced politicians and new challengers.

“Long-serving lawmakers often have an advantage because of their experience, strong political networks and access to key positions and committees in the national assembly.

“In many democratic systems, lawmakers can stay in office for many years if they continue to perform well and protect the interests of their people.

“This gives them more influence and better access to national opportunities.

“Experienced senators benefit from important committee roles and leadership positions, which are not easily given to new lawmakers.

“This gives them a stronger voice at the national level,” the political analyst argued.

Generally speaking, the present situation is nothing but a manifestation of struggle for power and influence in the state’s political system.

Sadly, the situation has seen former allies becoming rivals, with APC at the receiving end of what some analysts term the battle of the titans.

To the analysts, if the state will not slip from the ruling APC, the two political gladiators must sheathe their swords, resolve their differences and bring stakeholders together, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

(NANFeature)