Breaking news: Gombe APC Crisis Deepens as Reps Lawmaker Dumps Party After Ticket Loss

Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress in Gombe State following the defection of House of Representatives member, Abdullahi El-Rasheed, from the ruling party after losing the party’s consensus ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

El-Rasheed, popularly known as Bala Kelly, represents the Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. His resignation from the APC was announced on Saturday, barely months after he joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party.

The lawmaker had defected to the APC in February 2026 during a high-profile meeting with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in Abuja, where he praised the governor’s leadership style and the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

His move to the ruling party was seen as a major political gain for the APC in Gombe, with party leaders publicly welcoming him and assuring him of equal opportunities within the party structure.

However, the alliance quickly collapsed after the APC adopted Jamilu Ahmed Shabewa as its consensus candidate for the Dukku/Nafada federal seat, effectively shutting El-Rasheed out of the race for a second term.

Reacting to the development, the lawmaker expressed disappointment over the outcome and later announced his exit from the party, accusing the APC leadership of abandoning fairness and internal democracy in its candidate selection process.

His defection is the latest in a widening internal crisis rocking the Gombe APC over the adoption of consensus candidates for the 2027 elections.

The controversy has already drawn opposition from several influential figures within the party, including former Minister of Communications, Isa Ali Pantami, who rejected the emergence of Jamilu Ishyaku Gwamna as the party’s governorship consensus candidate.

Pantami described the arrangement as a “coronation” rather than a genuine consensus process and proceeded to submit his nomination form at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, signaling his intention to contest the party primary.

Former Governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje has also rejected the replacement of his candidacy with retired DCP Mohammed Ahmadu Deba for the Gombe Central senatorial ticket.

Goje’s supporters argued that the consensus process violated provisions of the Electoral Act and excluded key aspirants from participation.
In a related development, Senator Siyako Anthony Yaro recently dumped the APC for the PDP after losing his senatorial ticket to Joseph Jerry Damara.

Another governorship aspirant and former APC National Youth Leader, Sadiq Shuaibu Abubakar, also criticised the consensus arrangement, warning that the alleged imposition of candidates could weaken party unity in the state.

Despite the growing backlash, Governor Yahaya has defended the consultation process, insisting that the APC remains open to conducting direct primaries for aspirants dissatisfied with the consensus arrangement.

The party’s state publicity secretary also maintained that consensus remains the preferred option to preserve unity, but noted that primaries could still be conducted where disagreements persist.

El-Rasheed’s latest move has further intensified speculation over possible defections and deeper divisions within the Gombe APC as political realignments ahead of 2027 continue to gather momentum.