Gombe: Damara, ex-deputy governor Rubainu quit PDP for APC

From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe

Businessman and philanthropist Jerry Joseph Damara, alongside former Deputy Governor Tha’anda Rubainu, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, pledging full support for Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration.

Damara, well-known in Kaltungo Local Government Area for his community interventions, formally announced his defection on Thursday, September 4, in Gombe, where he presented his new APC membership card during a courtesy visit to the governor. He cited the developmental strides under Yahaya’s leadership, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and rural development, as the motivation for his decision.

As the Managing Director/CEO of Mesotho Group Limited, Damara emphasized the governor’s tangible projects, stating, “I am a construction man, and I know what construction means in the development of a state and society. Your Excellency, you have done well to construct Gombe for the benefit of all.”

Tha’anda Rubainu, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo from 2011 to 2015, joined Damara in the defection, alongside other prominent PDP members from the Gombe South senatorial district. Damara described the move as a collective decision driven by the APC-led government’s practical leadership and service delivery.

Governor Yahaya welcomed the defectors, describing their entry into the APC as a significant political gain for both Gombe and Nigeria. He highlighted his administration’s achievements in road construction, healthcare, education, and civil service reforms as evidence of its performance. “This is a very big moment for us because it signifies that there is no more opposition in the state. The backbone of the opposition in Gombe has been broken,” Yahaya declared.

The defection adds to a series of high-profile exits from the PDP in Gombe in recent months, further strengthening the APC’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.