Two Gombe PDP Local Government Chairmen Join Ruling APC Ahead of 2027 Elections

Two local government chairmen in Gombe State have announced their departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Alhaji Idris Abubakar Yayayi, chair of Kwami LGA, and Alhaji Yusuf Isa Jigawa, chair of Nafada LGA, each met separately with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya before formalising their switch.

Both men submitted resignation letters to their ward chairmen, formally ending their PDP memberships, and subsequently signed up with the APC. In statements released by the Governor’s office, the defectors said they would bring their political structures, grassroots networks and mobilisation machinery into the APC, aiming to strengthen the party’s presence in their respective areas ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meetings that facilitated the defections were coordinated by Senator Usman Bayero Nafada, who serves as the Coordinating Patron of the Gombe APC Campaign Council. Governor Yahaya welcomed the new members, expressing confidence that their experience and influence would bolster the party’s grassroots mobilisation and electoral prospects.

Background

The defections were disclosed in a statement from Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director‑General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House. According to the statement, the two former PDP chairmen praised Governor Yahaya’s leadership during their engagements and pledged to support the APC’s political activities. Their move reflects a broader trend of political realignments in the state as parties position themselves for the upcoming 2027 elections.

Both sources – Leadership newspaper and Daily Trust – report identical details: the chairmen’s names, their LGAs, the involvement of Governor Yahaya and Senator Nafada, and the submission of resignation letters to ward chairmen. No contradictory accounts were identified.

Why it matters

The shift of two local government chairmen from the opposition PDP to the ruling APC could reshape political dynamics in Gombe State. By transferring their local structures and supporter bases, the defectors are expected to enhance the APC’s grassroots reach in Kwami and Nafada, potentially influencing voter mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. According to Governor Yahaya, the political background and ability to mobilize supporters among the new entrants will greatly strengthen the party's campaign to solidify its standing throughout the state.

The defections also signal confidence in Governor Yahaya’s leadership, as noted by the government statement, and may encourage further realignments among local officials seeking alignment with the ruling party.

What happens next

The APC plans to integrate the former PDP chairmen’s networks into its organisational framework as the 2027 general elections approach. No specific dates for further integration activities were provided, but the statements suggest ongoing efforts to strengthen party structures in Kwami and Nafada in the months leading up to the election cycle.