Senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, Muhammad Danjuma Goje, has lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in pursuit of a fifth term bid in the Senate.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Senator Goje has been representing the zone since 2011, after his two terms as governor of the state.
In the direct primary election held on Saturday in the Akko and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas, two LGAs that make up the district, Mohammed Ahmed clinched the APC ticket for the Senatorial District.
The Returning Officer of the Election, Dr Habu Dahiru, declared that Ahmed, who is backed by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, scored 42,785 votes against Senator Goje’s 10,425 votes.
Ahmed was earlier selected as the APC’s consensus candidate for the Senate seat in Gombe Central, but Goje rejected the decision.
Speaking with journalists after the primaries, Ahmed said the process was conducted without disruption, noting that the atmosphere reflected growing support for change in Gombe Central.
He said party members and residents were enthusiastic about the possibility of stronger representation for the zone in the National Assembly.
He stated, “You can see the excitement among the people. Many believe the time has come for Yamaltu-Deba to have a stronger voice at the national level.”
The APC’s candidate added that his ambition was not aimed at denying anyone the right to contest, “but was driven by the desire of the people for a new direction.”