Gombe Central: Goje Loses APC Ticket As Gov Yahaya Hails Turn Out

Former Gombe State governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has lost his bid to secure another senatorial ticket under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Political observers in the state described the development as a major political victory for Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s camp ahead of the 2027 elections.

Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmadu, emerged winner of the APC primary for Gombe Central Senatorial District, defeating the incumbent senator.

Dr Habu Dahiru, the Returning Officer of the Election, announced that Ahmed polled 42,785 votes against Senator Goje who garnered 10,425 votes.

The development confirms earlier political analyses that the APC primaries in Gombe Central will be a power struggle between Governor Yahaya and Senator Goje over control of the party structure and the future of succession politics in the state.

Senator Goje was absent while aspirants and stakeholders aligned with the governor’s camp participated in the exercise.

The APC had earlier adopted Mohammed Ahmadu as consensus candidate for Gombe Central — a move widely viewed as a direct challenge to Goje’s re-election ambition.

Speaking shortly after the exercise at his ward Jekadafari, in Gombe LG, Governor Yahaya described the primaries as peaceful, commending the turn out of the party members.