KEY POINTS

• Governor Inuwa Yahaya has won the APC Gombe North senatorial ticket after participating in the party’s direct primary process.
• Former Governor Danjuma Goje lost the Gombe Central senatorial ticket in a major upset to retired DCP Mohammed Ahmadu.
• APC has concluded its senatorial primaries in Gombe, with Jerry Damara emerging as candidate for Gombe South amid generally peaceful elections

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Gombe North senatorial district following the conclusion of the party’s direct primaries across the state.

The exercise, which covered all three senatorial districts in Gombe, saw the governor secure a clear victory, reflecting his strong influence within the party’s grassroots structure.

Yahaya reportedly participated actively in the voting process by joining party members across the 52 wards in the district, where delegates and members were counted in line with the APC’s direct primary format.

His emergence as the candidate is widely interpreted as a consolidation of political authority within the state ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking after his victory, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the APC’s presence in the region and advancing development-focused governance both in Gombe State and at the national level.

One of the most significant outcomes of the primaries came from Gombe Central, where former governor and incumbent senator, Danjuma Goje, lost the APC senatorial ticket after more than 16 years of representing the district. Goje was defeated in the direct primary by retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmadu, who is widely seen as a preferred candidate of the current state leadership.

The outcome marks a dramatic shift in the political structure of Gombe Central, effectively ending Goje’s long-standing hold on the senatorial seat.

Political observers say the result reflects rising internal party tensions and increasing calls for generational change within the APC in the state. It also highlights the growing influence of Governor Yahaya’s political camp, which appears to have consolidated control over the party’s candidate selection process.

Damara emerges winner in Gombe South as APC completes senatorial lineup

In Gombe South, Jerry Damara secured the APC senatorial ticket after a relatively calm and orderly primary process. His victory was received with enthusiasm by supporters who described it as a fresh opportunity for renewed leadership in the district. Damara, in his acceptance remarks, pledged to prioritize development-focused policies aimed at improving infrastructure, creating economic opportunities, and delivering tangible benefits to constituents.

With the conclusion of primaries across all three senatorial districts, the APC has now finalized its candidates for Gombe North, Central, and South. Party officials confirmed that the exercise was largely peaceful, with results collated and forwarded to returning officers for official validation. The outcome is expected to shape internal party alignment and strategic preparations as the APC moves toward the 2027 general elections.