The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State suffered another significant political setback as at least 27 prominent stakeholders from Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The defectors, including retired military officers, retired civil servants, and veteran politicians, were formally received into the PDP at a gathering in Gombe Town, according to a statement shared by Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate.
Senior PDP Figures Welcome Defectors
The reception ceremony featured senior PDP figures, including former Gombe State Governor and Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, also known as Talban Gombe; PDP governorship candidate Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; and PDP Gombe State Chairman, Major General Amnon Kalaye Kwaskebe (Rtd). The presence of these leaders underscored the party's high-level engagement with the new members.
The defectors were accompanied by thousands of their supporters, further widening the scale of the political shift. This mass movement is seen as a direct challenge to the APC's influence in the Yamaltu Deba area, a key constituency in the state.
Notable Names Among the 27 Defectors
Among the 27 prominent figures who joined the opposition party were Col. Magaji Deba (Rtd), Lt. Col. Ado Baba (Rtd), Alhaji Adamu Aliyu (Dalcogna), Alhaji Sale Abubakar (F.G.L), Alhaji Danladi Buba Fata (E.S), Alhaji Waziri Mudi Shinga (Wazirin Shinga), Alhaji Abdulrashid Aliyu (Durbin Kwadan), Alhaji Isah Aliyu Galadima, Alhaji Yaya Babayo (Barden Deba), and Alhaji Hamisu Sani Gwani, among others.
The list includes individuals with substantial political experience and community standing, suggesting a coordinated and strategic shift in allegiance. Their departure from the APC is expected to have ripple effects on the party's grassroots organisation in the local government.
Pantami Receives Pledges of Support
Speaking at the event, the defectors declared their backing for Professor Isa Pantami, a former minister under the administration of late Muhammadu Buhari. They committed to working for the victory of all PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections. They also pledged to bring their political experience, grassroots influence, and wide community networks to bear in mobilising voters across the wards and communities of Yamaltu Deba.
Senator Dankwambo and Professor Pantami, welcoming the new members, assured them of equal opportunities, inclusion, and recognition within the party. The PDP described the development as a significant boost to its standing in Yamaltu Deba and a major setback for the APC, saying it reflected growing public confidence in Pantami's leadership and vision ahead of 2027.
The defection wave signals a potential realignment of political forces in Gombe State as the 2027 elections approach, with the PDP aiming to capitalise on this momentum to strengthen its electoral prospects.
