The political landscape in Gombe State has recorded another major movement ahead of the 2027 general elections following the defection of former African Democratic Congress House of Representatives aspirant Mohammed Danjuma, popularly known as Garkuwa Babba, to the All Progressives Congress.
Danjuma, who previously sought the ADC ticket for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, has also served as the National Chairman of the ADC House of Representatives Aspirants Forum.
His movement to the APC is being viewed as a boost for the ruling party in the state, particularly because he has pledged to transfer his political structure and grassroots network to the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Danjuma formally announced his decision during a meeting with Gombe State Governor and APC leader, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
He was received alongside the APC governorship candidate in Gombe State, Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, and party chieftain Engr Aliyu Mohammed Combat.
During the meeting, Danjuma declared his support for Gwamna’s governorship ambition and promised to work for the success of the APC and its candidates in the 2027 elections.
He also pledged to deploy his existing political network and grassroots structures in support of the party’s campaign across the state.
The former ADC aspirant said his decision was influenced by what he described as the performance and leadership record of the Inuwa Yahaya administration.
He argued that the governor’s development efforts had strengthened confidence in the APC and convinced him that the party remained the platform through which he could contribute to the political and developmental direction of Gombe State.
Danjuma also indicated that his support would extend beyond the governorship race.
He pledged to work for the success of other APC candidates contesting various positions in the 2027 elections, including Governor Yahaya’s senatorial ambition.
His decision represents another shift in the political alignment of opposition figures in Gombe ahead of the next general election.
The APC has been working to consolidate its political structure across the state, while opposition parties are also attempting to build alliances and strengthen their grassroots presence.
Danjuma’s defection is therefore likely to attract attention because of his previous position within the ADC’s House of Representatives aspirants’ structure.
His move also comes after a series of political realignments involving members and supporters of opposition parties in Gombe.
Earlier in the year, other political stakeholders from parties including the PDP, ADC and Labour Party also moved toward the APC and declared support for Gwamna’s governorship ambition.
The latest defection further highlights the fluid nature of political alliances ahead of the 2027 election.
For the APC, bringing opposition figures into its fold provides an opportunity to expand its network beyond its traditional party structures.
For Danjuma, the decision provides a new political platform from which he intends to pursue his interests and support the candidates he believes can advance the state’s development.
Gwamna’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate has also become a major focus of the party’s preparations for 2027.
His supporters have been presenting him as a candidate capable of building on the policies and programmes of the current administration.
Danjuma’s endorsement adds another grassroots voice to that campaign, particularly because of his previous involvement in the ADC and his position among the party’s House of Representatives aspirants.
The former ADC chieftain said he would begin working immediately to mobilise support for the APC across Gombe State.
He also expressed confidence in the ability of the party’s candidates to secure victory in the coming election.
Receiving Danjuma, Governor Yahaya described the development as a significant addition to the APC’s political strength ahead of 2027.
The governor welcomed his decision and assured him that his political experience and network would be useful to the party.
Yahaya also called for unity among APC members, stressing the importance of accommodating people from different political backgrounds.
He urged party stakeholders to work together despite their individual differences and focus on the broader interests of Gombe State.
The governor’s message reflects the importance of maintaining internal cohesion as the party prepares for what is expected to be a competitive election.
Political defections are common in Nigeria, particularly in the period leading up to major elections, when politicians frequently reassess their alliances and seek platforms they believe offer stronger electoral prospects.
Such movements can also influence the balance of power at the grassroots level because politicians often bring networks of supporters, community leaders and political structures with them.
In Gombe, where political competition is expected to increase as the 2027 election approaches, the movement of a former ADC aspirant into the APC could strengthen the ruling party’s campaign organisation.
However, the actual electoral impact of the defection will ultimately depend on whether Danjuma’s political network translates into measurable support for the APC at the polling booths.
The development also adds to the growing competition surrounding the Gombe governorship.
With the 2027 election approaching, political parties are expected to intensify efforts to attract influential figures, strengthen their structures and build support across the state’s local government areas.
The APC is expected to use the latest defection as part of its broader campaign to demonstrate that its political base is expanding.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, are likely to continue working on their own strategies for countering the ruling party’s influence.
For Danjuma, the move marks a significant change from his previous political position within the ADC.
His decision to abandon the platform on which he previously sought a House of Representatives seat and join the APC indicates a new phase in his political career.
He has now placed his political structure behind the APC and specifically endorsed Gwamna for the 2027 governorship race.
The coming months will show whether the new alliance can translate into stronger grassroots support for the APC and its candidates.
For now, the party has welcomed the former ADC figure and his political network, while Danjuma has committed himself to helping the APC pursue victory in Gombe State.
With political activity already gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, further defections and realignments are expected as parties position themselves for the contest.
Danjuma’s movement is therefore more than an individual change of political platform; it forms part of the wider realignment taking place across Gombe as politicians and political groups decide where to place their support ahead of the next election.
