The APC primaries in Gombe have come under intense criticism after aggrieved aspirants alleged that election results were announced in some constituencies despite claims that no voting exercise took place. The controversy formed part of broader disputes that trailed the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary elections across several states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
One of the most disputed contests occurred in Balanga and Billiri Federal Constituency in Gombe State during the House of Representatives primary conducted on May 16, 2026. According to reports, party members and delegates allegedly waited for accreditation officers and voting materials that never arrived at several wards within the constituency.
Despite the absence of voting activities, a returning officer later announced results for the constituency, triggering protests from aspirants and party stakeholders. Alfred John Attajiri, one of the aggrieved aspirants, described the process as an “invisible election,” insisting that no legitimate primary election was conducted across Balanga and Billiri before results were declared.
Attajiri stated: “It is deeply disturbing that results were announced for a process that never held across our constituency.” He said video recordings, photographs, and eyewitness accounts supported his claims regarding the disputed exercise.
The controversy surrounding the APC primaries in Gombe deepened after party stakeholders alleged that consensus arrangements were secretly implemented despite official claims that direct primaries would be conducted. Kingsley Musa, a party stakeholder, described the exercise as “a sham wrapped in the language of democracy.”
Musa alleged that decisions on candidates had already been concluded before voting commenced in several wards. According to him, the voting exercise only served as a formal process to legitimise predetermined outcomes within the party structure.
The crisis also extended to the governorship primary process in Gombe State. Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, withdrew from the APC governorship primary, citing alleged violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and failure by party officials to guarantee a credible nomination process.
Pantami’s camp alleged that many aspirants were not informed about voting venues or accreditation arrangements during the National Assembly direct primaries held in Gombe on May 16 and May 18, 2026. Senator Alkali, another governorship aspirant, also boycotted the process entirely.
While disputes dominated Gombe, similar controversies emerged in Edo State where two separate winners were declared in the APC Edo South senatorial primary. One returning officer announced Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as winner with 27,154 votes, while another official declared Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu winner with 33,399 votes.
In Kogi Central, former Governor Yahaya Bello reportedly polled 72,399 votes during the senatorial primary despite controversies surrounding his participation. According to figures announced during the exercise, Bello secured 29,621 votes in Okene LGA, 18,341 votes in Adavi, 10,298 in Ajaokuta, 8,943 in Okehi, and 5,146 votes in Ogori/Magongo.
Other Senate primaries also produced unusually high vote counts. In Imo West, Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly secured 230,464 votes against former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s 1,098 votes. In Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone polled 116,252 votes against former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege’s 3,643 votes.
Political observers said the disputes surrounding the APC primaries in Gombe and other states highlight growing tensions within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections. Several aggrieved aspirants have threatened legal action, while party appeal committees are expected to review petitions arising from the disputed exercises.
The APC national leadership has continued to defend the primary process while urging dissatisfied members to seek redress through internal party mechanisms. However, concerns over transparency, delegate voting, and parallel results continue to dominate political discussions following the controversial primaries.
