(Ismail Uba Misilli. Photo by Leadership Newspaper)
Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has not sponsored or anointed any candidate in advance of the 2027 gubernatorial election, according to Ismail Uba Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs at Gombe State Government House.
In an effort to maintain inclusivity and party unity, the governor continues to have extensive talks with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders, Misilli told Daily Sun.
The clarification comes after Governor Yahaya, the state’s APC leader, called a high-level strategic meeting with candidates running for governorship and the National Assembly under the party’s platform.
All announced candidates attended the meeting, which took place at the Government House in Gombe. Participants hailed it as a proactive step toward fortifying internal unity and laying the foundation for a consensus-driven process.
Party discipline, inclusivity, and strategic alignment were the main topics of discussion throughout the session. According to reports, the governor emphasized that togetherness is essential to the party’s election success and that members must approach the political process as a unified front.
The acceptance of consensus candidacy as the preferable method for choosing party flag bearers was one of the meeting’s main outcomes. Participants pointed out that this strategy would strengthen unity and ensure widespread support for potential candidates.
Stakeholders suggested implementing micro-zoning solutions to balance conflicting interests and guarantee fair representation among constituencies in order to operationalize the consensus framework.
In order to increase grassroots involvement and process ownership, they also suggested offering comparable discussions to local government stakeholders.
Participants pushed for a female affirmative agenda and urged the party leadership to provide women more opportunities in the consensus process and wider political engagement as part of an additional effort to promote inclusivity.
The candidates emphasized the significance of depending on confirmed communication from party leadership and warned against the dissemination of false information about purported endorsements.
They praised Governor Yahaya’s consultative strategy, characterizing it as open and crucial to bolstering the party’s internal democracy. A standing ovation and a unanimous vote of confidence in the governor’s leadership marked the end of the meeting.
In an effort to strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 election cycle, the governor has been holding a series of discussions with party stakeholders, including ward and local government executives, elders, and other important players throughout the state.