The lawmaker representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, has rejected the consensus arrangement adopted by the Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diaspora Digital Media reported that stakeholders of the party had during a meeting on Sunday presided over by Governor Yahaya anointed DCP Mohammed Ahmadu Deba as the APC’s consensus candidate for Goje’s seat.
But in a terse statement issued by his spokesman, Barr. Saidu Muazu Kumo, Senator Goje said the purported consensus meeting involved only Governor Yahaya and a limited number of aspirants, “and did not include all duly recognized aspirants within the party.”
He said the provisions of the Electoral Act has clearly stipulated two lawful methods for the nomination of candidates by political parties for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These methods must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure legality and transparency in the electoral process.
“It is further noteworthy that across the various electoral constituencies, several aspirants have validly purchased their Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, and were not participants in the said consensus arrangement held at the Government House,” he added.
Barr. Kumo added that in accordance with the extant electoral framework, the nomination process shall be conducted through direct primary elections, which are to be duly monitored by INEC and relevant security agencies, and in a date to slated by the party.
He stated that any form of imposition of candidates by political parties is inconsistent with, and contrary to, the provisions of the current electoral laws in Nigeria.
