Goje–Yahaya rift may threaten APC’s chances in Gombe
Early signs show the All Progressives Congress (APC) party is starting the 2027 election cycle divided, distracted, and unsure of its direction. Party meetings remain contentious, and local groups are
Early signs show the All Progressives Congress (APC) party is starting the 2027 election cycle divided, distracted, and unsure of its direction.
Party meetings remain contentious, and local groups are divided on key issues, including Gombe Central. The rivalry between Goje and Yahaya affects everyday decisions, including picking candidates, zoning, and how the party is run.
For many insiders, the worry is now real. They see 2023 as a warning, when a divided APC entered the elections with obvious problems and lost important federal seats and the state’s presidential vote.
“If we go into 2027 like this, we will lose more,” said a senior party member. “The opposition won’t defeat us. We will defeat ourselves.”
That fear now overshadows the party’s preparations.
A divided house
Officially, the APC is still the main party in Gombe. It runs the state government and has loyal supporters. But in reality, it often acts like two competing groups.
In Gombe Central, officials from different sides hold their own meetings and push for their own leaders. Arguments over who should represent the party locally and at the state level remain unresolved.
“You can’t plan elections like that,” said a ward organiser. “Before you even talk about voters, you’re still arguing about who is in charge.”
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These problems have real effects. It’s harder to organise, the party’s message is mixed, and local leaders are hesitant to get involved because they don’t know which side will win. The party is active across the state, but not well coordinated.
Lessons from 2023
The 2023 elections made these weaknesses clear.
Even though it was the ruling party, the APC lost ground in several races. It did not win the presidential vote in Gombe and lost key National Assembly seats.
Insiders say these results were caused by internal divisions. Campaign teams were split, and in some places, rival groups worked against each other. In other areas, some members have completely stopped supporting the party.
“There were places where we didn’t even campaign properly,” said a local strategist. “People were waiting to see which faction would win internally before committing.”
This hesitation slowed the party and led fewer core supporters to show up. Voters saw a party that was fighting itself.
“When a party is fighting itself, people lose confidence,” said a voter in Gombe metropolis. “You don’t know what they stand for anymore.”
Familiar risks, higher stakes
As people look ahead to 2027, the same divisions remain and may have even grown worse.
The biggest challenge right now is picking candidates. In a divided party, these choices are rarely simple. Reaching an agreement, which usually helps manage competition, may be harder because each side is unwilling to give up ground.
Succession brings even more tension. If Governor Yahaya completes his term, the fight to replace him could intensify the rivalry.
“Succession is where this will really be tested,” said a political observer. “If they can’t agree on a candidate, the split could become permanent.”
If there is no clear and agreed-upon process, unhappy groups may once again weaken the party from the inside.
Roots of the conflict
The crisis began with a relationship that once shaped politics in Gombe.
As governor from 2003 to 2011, Danjuma Goje built a powerful political network that shaped the state’s leadership. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya emerged from that system and was widely seen as his protégé.
When Yahaya became governor in 2019, it seemed like things would continue as before.
But that partnership did not last.
Over time, Yahaya’s group sought to become more independent and to limit Goje’s influence within the party and government. Important appointments have changed, and control of the party has become a point of conflict. What started as a transition turned into a power struggle.
“Two leaders cannot control the same structure,” said a party elder. “At some point, there will be a clash.”
From tension to open conflict
By 2021, the rivalry was out in the open.
The most dramatic moment came in November, when supporters of both camps clashed along the Gombe–Bauchi expressway, resulting in deaths and injuries and drawing national attention.
After that event, the conflict continued, with fights over leadership roles, zoning, and candidate selection. Gombe Central remains a key battleground, with both sides vying to control its politics.
“There is no issue that does not come back to control,” said a former local government official. “Everything is contested.”
Why reconciliation failed
The APC’s national leadership has intervened several times. Meetings have been held, and agreements announced, often followed by brief periods of calm.
However, the main problems remain unresolved.
“The problem is not the lack of meetings,” said a political analyst. “It is the lack of trust.”
Each side thinks the other is trying to get ahead. Any deals are viewed as temporary, and agreements often do not convince grassroots supporters. Personal ambition, especially with 2027 coming up, makes compromise even harder.
“No one wants to lose ground now and regret it later,” the analyst said.
This leads to a cycle of weak truces and repeated arguments.
A party at risk
For the APC in Gombe, what’s at risk is clear.
The party still has the structure and support to compete, but its internal divisions make it less effective. The 2023 experience showed how damaging those divisions can be.
“If nothing changes, we should expect the same outcome,” said the campaign strategist. “Or worse.”
For voters, the problem is now about more than party fights. It’s also about how the state is governed and whether it is stable.
“They should settle their differences,” said a teacher in Nafada. “If they cannot work together, how will they lead?”
What comes next?
The way forward depends on whether the party can move beyond quick fixes and address the root causes of the conflict. This would mean making clear deals on sharing power, open ways to select candidates, and both sides being willing to compromise.
So far, those conditions remain elusive.
With 2027 getting closer, time is running out. The longer this crisis lasts, the harder it will be to bring the party back together.
Right now, the APC in Gombe is stuck between its past and its future, shaped by a rivalry that started as mentorship but turned into a fight for control. If this struggle is not settled, the party may not lose to its opponents in 2027. Instead, it could end up losing to itself.
