APC Dominates Gombe LG Polls Amid Opposition Boycott and High Turnout

The All Progressives Congress (APC) achieved a sweeping victory in Saturday’s local government elections in Gombe State, securing all 24 chairmanship seats and all 240 councillorship positions contested. The elections, which covered the state’s 11 Local Government Areas and the 13 newly created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), were largely peaceful, marked by a significant voter turnout. Security personnel, election officials, and independent observers meticulously monitored the exercise across the state.

Abdullahi Garba Talasse, Chairman of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), officially announced the results in Gombe, declaring the APC as the winner across all contested chairmanship and councillorship seats. This dominant performance by the ruling party, however, occurred in the notable absence of major opposition parties, specifically the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which did not participate in the polls.

Despite the absence of the main opposition, several other political parties fielded candidates in a limited capacity. The African Congress (AC), also referred to as African Action Congress (AAC) in some reports, contested chairmanship positions in only three councils and councillorship in eight wards. The Democratic Liberation Alliance (DLA) contested in six chairmanship elections and 11 wards for councillorship. Similarly, the New Nigeria People’s Movement (NRM), Youth Party (YP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) each sponsored candidates in three chairmanship elections and 11 wards for councillorship polls. GOSIEC officials clarified that the limited participation of these parties explained why some registered zero votes in many areas.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, after casting his vote at Yahaya Umaru Polling Unit 010 in Jekadafari Ward, Gombe, praised the elections as peaceful, free, fair, and transparent. He expressed immense satisfaction with the large voter turnout, interpreting it as a clear reflection of public confidence in the democratic process and his administration's dedication to strengthening grassroots governance. The governor reiterated his commitment to promoting credible elections and deepening democratic institutions, noting Gombe’s consistent history of peaceful local government elections.

Reports from across the state affirmed that voting proceeded smoothly, free from major security breaches or incidents. Governor Yahaya urged all contestants to graciously accept the election outcomes in the spirit of peace and democracy, emphasizing that the results would be beneficial to all. This election marks the first local government poll conducted since the creation of the 13 LCDAs under the Yahaya administration. Efforts by LEADERSHIP to get a comment from the state’s main opposition party, the PDP, regarding the election results were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the party chairman went unanswered as of the press time.