Politics

APC Sweeps Gombe LG Polls, Wins All 24 Chairmanship, 240 Councillorship Seats

Published

3 months ago

June 28, 2026

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APC Wins Four of Five By-Elections as APM Takes Bauchi Seat

All Progressives Congress (APC)

APC Sweeps Gombe LG Polls, Wins All 24 Chairmanship, 240 Councillorship Seats

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured a landslide victory in the Gombe State local government elections, winning all 24 chairmanship positions and all 240 councillorship seats contested across the state’s 11 Local Government Areas and 13 newly created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The ruling party’s clean sweep was announced on Saturday by the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), marking a historic moment as the state conducted its first elections in the expanded 24-council structure.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed a clean sweep in the Gombe State local government elections, winning all 24 chairmanship positions and the 240 councillorship seats contested across the state. Announcing the outcome on Saturday in Gombe, Chairman of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), Abdullahi Garba Talasse, declared that the ruling party emerged victorious in every local government area and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) where voting took place .

Talasse described the conduct of elections in the newly established LCDAs as a major step forward for democratic governance in the state. He noted that the creation of the additional councils expanded Gombe’s local government structure from 11 councils with 114 councillors to 24 councils and LCDAs with a total of 240 councillors. This expansion became possible after Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya approved the creation of 13 Local Council Development Areas to bring governance closer to the people and accelerate grassroots development.

According to the GOSIEC chairman, the electoral commission collaborated with the State House of Assembly to ensure the legal framework required to conduct elections in the new LCDAs was put in place. “We met, made our suggestions to him, and His Excellency graciously approved them. We also visited other states, including Lagos, where elections had already been conducted using LCDAs, and after studying their experiences, we returned and secured the necessary enabling law through the house of assembly,” he explained .

“We did not struggle for the enabling law in vain. Today, we have successfully conducted elections across the 24 councils and LCDAs, which is a significant achievement for the state,” he said .

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The GOSIEC chairman linked the opposition parties’ poor performance to their limited participation in the elections. He explained that while multiple political parties participated in the exercise, only the APC fielded candidates in all 24 councils. The African Action Congress (AAC) fielded chairmanship candidates in only three local government areas, while the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) contested six chairmanship positions. The New Nigeria People’s Movement (NRM), Youth Party (YP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) each fielded candidates in three chairmanship races.

For the councillorship elections, the African Congress contested in only eight wards, while the DLA, NRM, YP, and ZLP each sponsored candidates in 11 wards out of the 240 contested. “That explains why some parties recorded zero votes in several areas because they did not participate across all the councils and wards,” he stated.

The absence of major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was notably conspicuous. The PDP cited lack of transparency in the electoral process as the reason for its boycott, while the ADC claimed it was not notified by GOSIEC to participate in the election. Efforts to obtain reactions from the PDP were unsuccessful as the party chairman neither answered telephone calls nor responded to text messages at the time of filing reports.

The elections were conducted across 114 wards and 2,988 polling units in the state, with Governor Inuwa Yahaya casting his vote at the Yahaya Umaru Polling Unit in Gombe local government area. The governor praised the peaceful and smooth conduct of the polls, noting that the entire exercise was free from major security issues. He described the peaceful atmosphere as proof of the maturity of voters and a sign of the dedication shown by everyone involved in upholding democratic traditions.

Announcing the outcome, the GOSIEC chairman declared that from the results before the commission, APC has won all the 24 chairmanship seats and all the 240 councillorship positions. He commended political parties, election observers, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.

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He also expressed appreciation to party leaders, government officials, non-governmental organisations, and other visitors from different parts of the country who monitored the exercise, describing their contributions as vital to the successful conduct of the polls. “In conclusion, I thank His Excellency for providing us with the enabling environment. We also appreciate all political parties for their support, as well as the observers, NGOs, and members of the media who have been with us throughout this exercise. May God bless you all, and I wish everyone a safe journey back,” Garba added .

The Gombe State local government elections were hailed as a significant milestone in the state’s democratic evolution. The expansion of the local government structure from 11 to 24 councils represents one of the most ambitious administrative reforms undertaken by the Yahaya administration since assuming office. Governor Yahaya had consistently maintained that the creation of additional LCDAs was necessary to bring government services closer to rural communities and ensure more equitable distribution of resources across the state.

Political analysts have noted that the APC’s clean sweep in the Gombe LG polls reflects the party’s deep-rooted popularity in the state, which has been a stronghold of the ruling party since the 2019 general elections. The party has maintained a firm grip on the state’s political landscape, winning all major elective positions in previous elections. The absence of serious opposition participation further consolidated the APC’s dominance, leaving little room for competitive contestation.

The Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, had earlier expressed confidence in the electoral process and urged residents to come out en masse to exercise their civic rights. He emphasized the importance of grassroots participation in strengthening democracy and ensuring that local government councils remain accountable to the people. The governor also assured that his administration would continue to support democratic institutions and processes to deepen governance at all levels.

Voter turnout across the state was reported to be moderate, with many residents expressing satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the elections. Security was adequately provided across all polling units, with no major incidents of violence or electoral malpractice reported. The presence of security personnel, including the police and civil defence corps, helped maintain order and ensure that voters cast their ballots without intimidation or harassment.

The GOSIEC has been commended for its professionalism and commitment to conducting credible elections despite the challenges posed by the expansion of councils. The commission was praised for ensuring that all necessary logistics, including the deployment of electoral materials and personnel, were effectively managed to ensure a smooth voting process.

Civil society organisations and election observers have called for continued reforms to strengthen the electoral process in Gombe State, including enhancing the participation of opposition parties and ensuring greater transparency in future elections. They also urged political parties to engage constructively with the electoral commission to address any concerns and improve the overall quality of the electoral process.

The successful conduct of the Gombe State local government elections reinforces the importance of local government autonomy and grassroots democracy in Nigeria’s governance framework. As the newly elected chairmen and councillors prepare to assume office, expectations are high that they will deliver tangible development and improved services to their communities.

APC Sweeps Gombe LG Polls, Wins All 24 Chairmanship, 240 Councillorship Seats

Related Topics:APC chairmanship Gombe LG Polls

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Politics

2027: Lawal Challenges Wike To Clarify Allegiance Over Rainbow Coalition

Published

5 hours ago

September 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike

2027: Lawal Challenges Wike To Clarify Allegiance Over Rainbow Coalition

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has challenged Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to clarify his political allegiance ahead of the 2027 elections, amid a disagreement between the minister and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lawal said Wike could not support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while also backing candidates of other political parties in governorship and legislative elections.

The Zamfara governor made the comments in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

“Our message is very, very clear: be on one side, you can’t be on two sides,” Lawal said, arguing that Wike should either fully align with the APC or make his position outside the party clear.

Lawal confirmed that APC governors were effectively asking Wike to join the party if he intended to continue supporting Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.

Asked whether the governors wanted Wike to join the APC, Lawal responded: “Exactly.”

He also said he would discuss Wike’s political position with President Bola Tinubu when the President returns from his working vacation abroad.

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At the centre of the dispute is the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party platform backing Tinubu’s presidential bid while allowing its members to retain their political affiliations and support candidates in other contests.

Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has maintained that his support for Tinubu does not require him to support APC candidates in governorship, National Assembly or state House of Assembly elections. Through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike has described the coalition as a multi-party arrangement rather than an APC platform.

The position has put Wike at odds with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), the umbrella body of APC governors. The forum has said its members would not support political arrangements capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid, weakening the APC or adversely affecting its candidates in the 2027 elections.

Lawal said he supported the forum’s position and that the APC governors would not change their stance.

He also responded to Wike’s criticism of some APC governors as “lazy”, saying the FCT minister knew those he was referring to and that the performance of individual governors should be assessed based on their records in office.

The exchange between Lawal and Wike adds another dimension to the political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party affiliation, cross-party alliances and support for candidates at different electoral levels emerging as points of contention.

2027: Lawal Challenges Wike To Clarify Allegiance Over Rainbow Coalition

Politics

2027: Fayemi Denies Galadima’s Claim He Is Coordinating Opposition Group Against Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

September 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

2027: Fayemi Denies Galadima’s Claim He Is Coordinating Opposition Group Against Tinubu

Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has rejected a claim by Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain Buba Galadima that he is coordinating a seven-member opposition group working towards challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Galadima made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed possible strategies by opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 election.

According to Galadima, he is one of seven opposition figures meeting under Fayemi’s coordination to develop a strategy for challenging Tinubu.

“I am part of the group of the opposition candidates, seven of us meeting under the coordination of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to try to work on that. And we are making progress,” Galadima said.

When asked what the group was working towards, Galadima responded that its objective was “defeating Tinubu.” He did not publicly identify the other members of the alleged seven-person group.

Galadima also outlined his preferred strategy for the 2027 election, arguing that opposition parties should field their own candidates rather than attempt to place a single candidate on the ballot through a joint arrangement at this stage.

He suggested that opposition supporters could subsequently be encouraged to back one candidate if, close to the election, the opposition reached a consensus about which candidate should receive broader support.

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However, Fayemi has denied that he is coordinating the group described by Galadima.

Julius Ogunro, a media aide to the former governor, told TheCable that there was “no truth” in the allegation and referred to an earlier denial issued by Fayemi’s media office.

The latest denial follows a similar claim made in August by Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate.

Amaechi had said he and Fayemi were involved in initial discussions that later expanded to include other political stakeholders interested in creating a broader opposition platform.

Fayemi’s media office rejected that claim at the time.

Ahmad Sajoh, head of the Fayemi Media Office, said the former governor remained a committed member and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.

Sajoh said Fayemi had consistently affirmed his commitment to the APC and was working within the party to address its challenges and advance what he described as its progressive ideals.

Fayemi served two non-consecutive terms as Ekiti State governor on the APC platform between 2010 and 2022. He also served as Minister of Solid Minerals Development under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The latest controversy comes amid continuing efforts by opposition politicians and groups to explore possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Political actors opposed to the APC administration have held discussions about possible alliances, cooperation and strategies for presenting a stronger challenge at the polls. Different proposals have emerged, including arrangements in which parties retain their individual candidates while coordinating support around a candidate considered acceptable to a wider section of the opposition.

Galadima’s comments form part of that broader discussion, but his claim about Fayemi’s role has not been independently confirmed.

The identities of the other six people allegedly involved in the group have also not been publicly disclosed by Galadima.

Fayemi’s position, as communicated through his media aides, remains that he is committed to the APC and that the claim that he is coordinating the alleged seven-man opposition group is untrue.

The disagreement therefore leaves two conflicting accounts: Galadima says Fayemi is coordinating a group of opposition figures working towards a common strategy against Tinubu, while Fayemi’s representatives reject the claim and maintain that he remains committed to the ruling party.

As political activities ahead of the 2027 general election intensify, further developments will determine whether the reported opposition discussions translate into a formal political arrangement or remain informal consultations among politicians and political groups.

2027: Fayemi Denies Galadima’s Claim He Is Coordinating Opposition Group Against Tinubu

Politics

2027: Otti Explains Why He Supports Tinubu Despite Remaining in Labour Party

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Abia State Governor Alex Otti and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

2027: Otti Explains Why He Supports Tinubu Despite Remaining in Labour Party

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has clarified his position on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, saying his support for the President is linked to his responsibilities as a governor and member of the National Economic Council (NEC).

Otti made the clarification during a televised interview after questions emerged over his political relationship with Tinubu and his continued membership of the Labour Party (LP).

The governor said he could not reasonably oppose Tinubu while serving as a state governor and participating in the Federal Government’s decision-making process through the NEC.

According to Otti, his position is based on his role in government and should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the Labour Party or its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Otti explained that he supports Tinubu as the President of Nigeria, while maintaining that he has a separate position regarding the presidential candidate he supports in the 2027 election.

When asked whether Tinubu was his preferred presidential candidate, Otti indicated that he has a candidate within the Labour Party, separating that choice from his support for Tinubu in his capacity as President.

The clarification effectively draws a distinction between Otti’s role as a governor working with the Federal Government and his political position ahead of the next presidential election.

Otti was elected Abia State governor in 2023 on the Labour Party platform and has remained associated with the party despite the departure of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

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Obi has since left the Labour Party and is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.

Otti previously said he would remain in the Labour Party despite Obi’s departure, explaining that his decision to stay was independent of Obi’s political movement.

The governor’s latest comments come amid growing political realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Tinubu seeking another term and several opposition parties preparing their candidates.

The issue became particularly prominent after Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike said Otti was backing Tinubu’s re-election.

At the time, Otti’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, acknowledged the governor’s cordial relationship with Tinubu but said an explicit confirmation of Otti’s political position would have to come from the governor himself.

Otti has now publicly explained that his support for Tinubu is connected to his responsibilities as governor and NEC member.

He also argued that the President has a constitutional right to seek another term and suggested that disagreements over government policies should be handled through the appropriate government channels rather than public confrontation.

The Abia governor further pointed to areas where he agrees with some policies of the Tinubu administration, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he said is consistent with his own economic thinking.

Despite his relationship with the Presidency, Otti has continued to identify with the Labour Party.

The party has also continued to publicly associate itself with the governor. On September 23, Labour Party presidential candidate Dr Sunday Chibuzo Okereke led a solidarity roadshow in Arochukwu, Abia State, where he mobilised support for Otti and other Labour Party candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development is significant because Otti’s position could otherwise have been interpreted as a political break with the Labour Party following Obi’s departure.

However, his latest clarification does not amount to an announcement that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or abandoned the Labour Party.

Otti remains a Labour Party governor, while maintaining a working relationship with the Tinubu administration at the federal level.

The governor has also previously ruled out seeking the presidency himself after completing his tenure in Abia, saying he does not intend to pursue another major elective political office after leaving the governorship.

His latest comments therefore place his position ahead of 2027 in two separate contexts: his institutional relationship with Tinubu as President and his stated support for a Labour Party presidential candidate in the forthcoming election.