Goje, Dankwambo’s Absence At APC Campaign Council Casts Doubt Over Unity – Gombe Residents

The absence of former Gombe State governors Danjuma Goje and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo from the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign and advisory councils has generated reactions over the party’s efforts to unite influential political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The two former governors were listed among members of the councils inaugurated by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya on Thursday in Gombe, but neither attended the ceremony, despite their prominent positions in the state’s political landscape.

Their absence came as Yahaya urged party members to reconcile differences, embrace unity and intensify grassroots mobilisation to secure victory for President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Abdu Isah, a resident of Federal Lowcost Gombe, maintained that their absence raises questions about whether the party’s leadership has secured their active participation or merely placed their names on the councils.

According to the campaign and advisory council lists released by the APC, Goje was listed at number six and five on the advisory council, while Dankwambo, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the party’s leader in the state, was listed at seven and six on the advisory council.

Isah said the inclusion of the two former governors suggests that the APC leadership recognises the importance of accommodating influential political figures in its electoral structure.

However, he noted that their absence from the inauguration raises a question about the distinction between formal membership of a campaign council and actual political commitment to its activities.

A political commentator, Sallau Yahya, in his reaction, noted that, for a party preparing for a competitive election, the participation of influential figures could matter beyond their presence at ceremonies. Their political networks, loyalists and ability to mobilise supporters could contribute to the party’s grassroots strength. “But only if they truly accept the offer and agree to work.”

“But without their active involvement, especially Goje, who is a serving Senator and an influential figure, the councils could face the challenge of coordinating political interests.

Yahya added that their absence, however, does not, by itself, establish that either politician has rejected the APC’s campaign or intends to oppose its candidates.

Dankwambo’s response

However, efforts to reach out to the lawmaker for comment were not successful, but, one of his media aides, Husaini Ali Mohammed, has denied that the former governor was aware of or consented to his inclusion in the APC’s campaign committees. Mohammed said he contacted the lawmaker after seeing the announcement and that he told him he knew nothing about the appointment and was not a member of the committees. He added that Senator Dankwanbo would issue an official statement to clarify his position.

The response raises questions about whether the party consulted him before including his name on the lists and whether his appointment reflects an agreement with the APC leadership.

Dankwambo remains a prominent PDP figure in Gombe State and the party’s candidate for Gombe North, making his inclusion in the APC campaign structure particularly noteworthy.

Commentators in the state said his reported lack of awareness could suggest that the party’s attempt to accommodate him has not translated into a formal political understanding.

Goje’s absence

Goje’s absence is equally significant given his long-standing influence in Gombe politics.

The former governor, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District in the Senate, had a rift with Governor Yahaya following his inability to secure his senatorial ticket for the 2027 polls.

For Sallau Yahya, his political relationship with Governor Yahaya has been shaped by competing interests within the state’s political landscape, making his presence or absence at major party events an issue of interest.

Goje’s inclusion in the campaign structure could be interpreted as an effort to accommodate his political influence and strengthen the APC’s position across the state.

But for several analysts, his absence from the inauguration leaves questions about whether the party has achieved the level of political reconciliation needed to bring its influential stakeholders together.