By Hajara Leman
For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, the road to 2027 appears to be bumpy and torturous.
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 the 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 the 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.
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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.
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Meanwhile, some grassroots politicians from Akko and supporters are backing Goje’s continuity beyond 2027.
