The APC primaries in Gombe have sparked controversy following allegations of irregularities, ghost elections, and manipulated results during the party’s House of Representatives primary election in Balanga and Billiri local government areas. Aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders alleged that results were announced despite claims that no actual voting took place in several wards.

The controversy emerged during the All Progressives Congress internal nomination exercises conducted ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party organised primaries across several states to select candidates for legislative and governorship positions. In Gombe State, however, complaints surfaced from aspirants and delegates who questioned the credibility of the process in Balanga and Billiri Federal Constituency. According to reports from party stakeholders, electoral officials and voting materials allegedly failed to reach several designated voting centres during the exercise.

One of the affected aspirants, Alfred John Attajiri, described the APC primaries in Gombe as an “invisible election,” alleging that no lawful voting process was conducted before results were declared. He claimed that delegates and party supporters waited for hours at different wards without accreditation or commencement of voting activities. Attajiri further alleged that despite the absence of voting, a returning officer later announced results for the constituency primary election.

The APC primaries in Gombe also drew criticism from party stakeholders who accused influential figures within the APC structure of manipulating the exercise to favour preferred candidates. A stakeholder identified as Kingsley Musa reportedly described the process as lacking transparency and inconsistent with democratic principles guiding party primaries.

The controversy widened after former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, withdrew from the APC governorship primary in the state, citing alleged violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and concerns about the credibility of the process. Senator Alkali, another governorship aspirant, also reportedly stayed away from the exercise amid complaints about transparency and internal party fairness.

The disputes linked to the APC primaries in Gombe have intensified concerns regarding internal democracy, transparency, and delegate management within political parties.

Political observers note that unresolved disputes arising from party primaries may affect party cohesion and trigger post-primary legal challenges ahead of general elections. The development also highlights broader concerns about compliance with electoral regulations and fairness during candidate nomination processes.