Goje rejects APC consensus in Gombe
The Senator representing Gombe Central, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, has rejected the consensus arrangement adopted by the Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party had on Sunday announced that key stakeholders had reached agreement through broadbased consensus on candidates for governorship, state and National Assembly.
Already, two governorship aspirants, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, have rejected the announcement which they likened to coronation rather than consensus.
Both aspirants said they were not consulted on the matter, as provided by the party’s constitution.
Goje, who currently represents Gombe Central Senatorial District, was edged out in the consensus arrangement spearheaded by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, by DCP Mohammed Ahmadu Deba (Rtd) as the APC’s consensus candidat.
In a statement issued on Monday by his aide, Barr. Saidu Muazu Kumo, the Senator, who is seeking a record fifth term at the Senate, said the purported consensus meeting involved only Governor Yahaya and a limited number of aspirants.
It did not include all duly recognized aspirants within the party as provided by the 2026 Electoral Act, he added.
According to him, the Electoral Act stipulates two lawful methods for the nomination of candidates by political parties which must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure legality and transparency in the electoral process.
“It is further noteworthy that across the various electoral constituencies, several aspirants have validly purchased their Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, and were not participants in the said consensus arrangement held at the Government House,” he added.
Kumo added that in accordance with the extant electoral framework, the nomination process shall be conducted through direct primary, which are to be duly monitored by INEC and relevant security agencies, and in a date to slated by the party.
He stated that any form of imposition of candidates by political parties is inconsistent with, and contrary to, the provisions of the current electoral laws in Nigeria.
