Gombe Central: Goje Says Still Consulting As Supporters Push For Fifth Senate Bid, PDP Defection Speculation Mounts

Former Gombe State Governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Muhammad Danjuma Goje, on Saturday said he was still consulting on his political future, amid growing pressure from supporters for him to seek another term in the Senate.

Goje spoke at his residence in Pantami, Gombe, where he was received by his supporters and political associates.

The gathering came against the backdrop of heightened political uncertainty surrounding the former governor following his inability to clinch the ticket in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Gombe Central and increasing reports that he could defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Although Goje did not announce any change of party, he told his supporters that he remained a member of the APC.

“I have not defected to any party. I am still in APC,” he said, while urging his supporters to cooperate with political stakeholders and remain loyal.

The former governor, however, appeared to leave the door open for another Senate bid, saying he had initially not intended to contest again but was persuaded by his supporters to reconsider. “I started politics 45 years ago. After my governorship, I didn’t intend to contest. You insisted. I’m not interested again. But there’s pressure,” he told the gathering.

He said his long political career had taken him through several state and national positions, including serving as chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Goje, who governed Gombe State for two terms between 2003 and 2011, has represented Gombe Central in the Senate since 2011. He was re-elected in 2015, 2019 and 2023, making a potential return in 2027 a bid for a fifth Senate term.

His latest comments are likely to intensify speculation about his next political move, particularly after the APC senatorial primary in May produced retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed, as its candidate for Gombe Central.

Goje rejected the announced outcome of the primary, describing the result as fake and saying the authentic result would be released in Abuja. His name was subsequently absent from the list of successful National Assembly candidates submitted by the APC to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The development has fuelled reports that the former governor could seek the Gombe Central seat on another platform.

Reports suggest that the PDP was mounting pressure on Goje to defect to the party and contest the Senate seat, while also supporting its Gombe governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. The report said both the PDP and African Democratic Congress (ADC) were courting Goje, with sources from his camp confirming that discussions over a possible PDP move were ongoing.

PDP has already fielded Aliyu Hammadu as its candidate for the senatorial zone, making some commentators suggesting that any move by Goje to seek the same ticket would therefore require the party to reconsider or replace its already announced candidate, potentially setting the stage for another major political realignment in the constituency.

Goje’s potential defection has attracted particular attention because of his longstanding political influence in the state and his relationship with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who served as Commissioner of Finance during Goje’s administration.

The relationship between the two political figures, once described as that of political mentor and protégé, has deteriorated significantly. Reports have linked their disagreements to competing interests over the control of the APC’s political structure and the future representation of Gombe Central.

The rift has again become central to the 2027 political calculations in Gombe. Recent reports said Governor Yahaya backed calls for rotation of the Gombe Central Senate seat, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to end Goje’s 16-year run in the National Assembly.

The APC’s May primary consequently became a major setback for Goje, as Mohammed Ahmed emerged as the party’s candidate. However, Goje’s Saturday appearance suggests that his political structure remains active.

Addressing the gathering, Goje also stressed the importance of loyalty and cooperation among his supporters, saying political stakeholders should work together.

He further noted that his influence extends beyond the APC, saying political actors across the state’s major parties in the state were among those he had mentored during his decades in politics. “People across all political parties in Gombe State are my political mentees,” he said.