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…As Yoriyo calls for equity in Gombe South
From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
Thousands of constituents from Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area (LGA) in Gombe Central Senatorial District have declared support for the return of Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje to the senate in 2027, citing his legislative experience, political influence, and track record of performance as reasons for their action.
The endorsement, announced on Friday in Gombe by representatives of the 11 wards in Yamaltu/Deba LGA, comes amid growing political undercurrents over zoning within the senatorial district.
Daily Sun gathered that the endorsement is coming barely after a separate visit by other community stakeholders to the Gombe State Governor, where they demanded that the Gombe Central senatorial seat be zoned to Yamaltu/Deba, instead of Akko LGA, where Goje hails from.
Speaking on behalf of the constituents, Dr. Newton Moses said the people of Yamaltu/Deba are united in their support for Goje’s re-election bid, describing him as a tested and result-driven leader whose continued presence in the National Assembly would benefit the district.
Reading from a memorandum addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Moses reaffirmed the group’s loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its commitment to sustaining experienced leadership at the federal level.
“Our position is guided by patriotism, democratic principles, and a sincere desire to ensure that our constituency and the nation continue to benefit from competent and effective representation,” he stated.
The group argued that democratic governance should prioritise competence and the will of the electorate over zoning considerations, noting that the Nigerian Constitution does not impose tenure limits or zoning restrictions on National Assembly membership.
They maintained that Goje’s years of legislative experience, deep institutional knowledge, and established political networks position him to deliver greater dividends of democracy to Gombe Central.
“Lawmaking is a complex and evolving process that requires institutional memory and strategic relationships. Senator Goje has built these capacities over time, making continuity not just desirable but essential,” Moses stated.
The constituents further emphasised that Goje’s seniority in the senate translates into increased access to federal opportunities, stronger advocacy, and enhanced representation in national decision-making processes.
They also pointed to what they described as his widespread grassroots support across the senatorial district, warning that disregarding such backing could undermine democratic principles.
Reaffirming their support for the APC and the Tinubu administration, the group called on party leadership and relevant stakeholders to respect the will of the people and back Goje’s return to the senate in 2027.
The development highlights an emerging contest between continuity and zoning sentiments within Gombe Central, setting the stage for a potentially high-stakes political recalibration ahead of the next general elections.
In a related development, Gombe South is already making a strong bid for the deputy governorship slot. In the Southern part of the state, where politics has always been both peculiar and pivotal, the intrigues over their bid for the deputy governorship are visible. From whispered alliances to subtle defections, the pieces on the chessboard are really moving.
Yet, amid the noise and manoeuvring, one voice is calling for order, fairness, and a return to principles. That voice belongs to John Lazarus Yoriyo, a former deputy governor of Gombe State and now a prominent leader in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). For Yoriyo, the critical challenge is not just who takes power in 2027, it is whether Gombe South can fix itself, enforce internal justice, and bargain from a position of unity.
“Politics, democracy, is for the majority, for what the people want, not for what an individual wants, no matter his position or wealth,” Yoriyo said in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun.
He further said that “In Gombe South, we have always built our politics on justice and fair play. But what happened in 2023 missed that calculation. We must go back to the drawing board,” he declared.
Since the return to democracy in 1999, Gombe State has operated a delicate balance among its three zones, North, Central, and South. Gombe North and Central has often produced governors and held sway in critical state institutions, while Gombe South has been compensated with deputy governorship and legislative clout.
This arrangement, though informal, has been respected enough to prevent open conflict. In fact, since 1999, the deputy governorship has consistently been zoned to Gombe South. Alongside this, the South has also produced senators and federal lawmakers, ensuring visibility at both state and national levels.
However, according to Yoriyo, the fragile equilibrium was upended in 2023. “The calculation of justice was missed,” he lamented.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), historically strong in the South, failed to distribute positions fairly. Traditionally, each of the four local governments in the zone, Billiri, Balanga, Kaltungo, and Shongom had a share of the key positions which include, one deputy governor, one senator, and two House of Representatives seats. This unwritten formula ensured that no council felt marginalised.
“Normally, we share positions fairly,” Yoriyo recalled stating that in 2023, party leaders ignored the tradition. “Selfish interests prevailed, and it landed us where we are. The deputy governorship that was supposed to be in Billiri didn’t materialise, because the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not win the election. Today, Billiri has virtually no representation in any significant political capacity”.
The fallout was predictable. Disenchanted voters withheld support, voter turnout dipped, and PDP lost the momentum it once commanded. For Yoriyo, the lesson is clear, “injustice within breeds failure without”.
Billiri’s grievances are loudest. Having lost out on the deputy governorship slot in 2023, the council feels shortchanged. With no major political officeholder today, the town’s elites are pressing harder for fairness.
While zoning is not codified in law, it remains a potent tool for maintaining peace and balance. For many Billiri stakeholders, including Yoriyo who hails from Balanga, equity demands that after Balanga’s double win in 2023, at least one of the two seats should rotate to Billiri. “Ali JC and Siyako should seat and decide who should step down in 2027 or the people will go for a different candidate in other political parties and I think that will not go down well for both of them,” Yahaya Musa added.
According to him, failure to honour this expectation could strain the political harmony between the two councils and trigger a heated contest that might split party lines and voter loyalties or better open the way for Kaltungo or Shongom.
Ali Isa JC is quietly consolidating support networks in Abuja and across the constituency, while Antony Siyako Yaro is banking on his senatorial incumbency and performance record. Both are testing their relevance against the shifting grassroots expectations.
Billiri, on the other hand, faces the test of producing a unifying candidate who can galvanise its voting bloc, bridge intra-party fissures, and challenge Balanga’s entrenched hold. Without such a figure, the constituency may once again tilt in Balanga’s favour. Yoriyo who is a major force in the ADC coalition is advancing a doctrine that could reshape the political conversation in the zone. He insists the four key positions tied to the zone must be equitably distributed.
He said, “Since inception in 1999, the deputy governorship has always been associated with Gombe South. Ideally, each of our four local governments should hold one of these positions. That is justice. And I assure the people that ADC will respect this balance”.
Yoriyo’s message is a strategy to rally support across the South by appealing for fairness. For the ADC, a party just coming up as a new bride banking on internal crisis and political mis- steps of the APC and PDP, presenting itself as the guardian of justice, the party hopes to build grassroots credibility where the larger parties falter.
With Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of APC set to complete his second term in 2027, the succession race is wide open. Each party is recalibrating its strategy. With the incumbency at hand, the ruling party will likely dangle the deputy governorship to secure the bloc’s loyalty.
The 2027 elections in Gombe will not just test party machinery or political alliances, it will test the principle of justice. For Gombe South, the path forward is clear but difficult; fix itself, share positions equitably, and bargain from strength. However, in the high-stakes game of Gombe politics, one truth remains constant; those who miscalculate justice often miscalculate victory.
