The All Progressives Congress has said it is taking its time to select a running mate for its Gombe State governorship candidate, Jamilu Gwamna, as the party seeks wider consultations ahead of the 2027 election.
Gombe APC Chairman, Mohammed Ndus, said the delay was deliberate and linked to the need to involve a broader range of stakeholders before the deputy governorship candidate is announced.
Ndus, who spoke with journalists on Monday, dismissed suggestions that the party was running behind schedule, saying the process was progressing within the timeframe set for the 2027 electoral process.
“Our list is in our computer. Very soon, the press will be invited when we unveil and spread them in. We are working within the timeframe. We are not late,” he said.
The APC had earlier settled on Gwamna as its consensus governorship candidate after consultations among party leaders and stakeholders in the state.
Why APC is taking longer with running mate
According to Ndus, the process for choosing a deputy governorship candidate differs from the governorship primary that produced Gwamna.
He explained that the running mate would have to work with the governorship candidate and play a role in the administration if the party wins the election, making broader consultations necessary.
“The other one you’re talking about is a selection, which you need wider consultations so that you onboard everybody that is going to participate in the affairs of governance,” the chairman said.
Ndus also ruled out the assumption that the eventual running mate would necessarily come from the same part of the state as Governor Muhammadu Yahaya.
He said the party was looking primarily at competence and capacity.
“I can confidently tell you that we are not picking from where the governor comes from. The person can emerge from anywhere,” he said.
The identity of the running mate has become a subject of growing interest as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
Gombe APC moves to settle post-primary grievances
Beyond the running mate issue, the state APC leadership is also working to resolve grievances arising from the party’s recent primary elections.
Ndus said a reconciliation committee headed by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau had been divided into subcommittees to engage aspirants and other stakeholders.
He acknowledged that disagreements were inevitable after competitive party contests, particularly where several aspirants had spent years pursuing political ambitions.
The chairman, however, said some unsuccessful aspirants had begun supporting those who emerged from the primaries, while the party was also engaging others to assure them that their experience could still be useful if the APC formed the next government.
“The reconciliation is taking place. I can tell you that they have done well because some people have accepted the will of God as not getting tickets to participate,” Ndus said.
APC targets wider grassroots engagement
The party also plans to expand its grassroots engagement as the 2027 election approaches.
Ndus said traditional rulers, market women, businessmen and other groups would be brought into the party’s campaign activities.
He said the APC’s campaign would be designed not simply around winning votes but also around encouraging citizens to understand their role in governance.
“Our campaign this time around is not going to be just to win and garner votes. But it is for the people to understand that they are part of governance. They are not just electorates,” he said.
The chairman also said the party would use its campaign to promote the protection of public infrastructure, arguing that government facilities belong to the people and should be protected.
APC prepares for Gombe bye-election
Ndus also spoke about the forthcoming Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election, saying the APC had completed its primary process and produced a candidate.
He said the party’s candidate, identified as the Commissioner for Works, had completed the required documentation.
The APC chairman expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious at the September 19 election.
He added that reconciliation efforts within the party would continue alongside its wider preparations for the 2027 elections.
