Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has said he will not tolerate any act capable of threatening peace in the state ahead of the forthcoming primary elections, warning politicians and their supporters against violence.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, the governor stated that the decision followed disagreements among some aspirants despite efforts by the APC Elders’ Committee and the party’s State Executive Committee to build consensus around endorsed candidates.
The governor explained that some weeks ago, with the support of the APC Elders’ Committee and the State Executive Committee, members of the APC made spirited attempt to explore the consensus option.
Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, has rejected the consensus arrangement which favoured Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna and the Senator representing Gombe Central District, Muhammadu Danjuma Goje, and protested the arrangement that ousted him after serving for 16 years.
Governor Yahaya said, “The party will now proceed with direct primaries in accordance with Section 87(2) of the Electoral Act.”
The governor, who said he would enter the final year of his administration on 29 May, said that preserving peace and stability in the State remains his top priority as political activities intensify.
Yahaya said the conduct of party primaries was critical because of its implications for democracy, social cohesion and internal stability in the state, warning that security agencies will not tolerate attempts by politicians or their supporters to exploit the primaries to cause trouble.
He stated that there are unpatriotic politicians and conflict entrepreneurs who seek to hide behind the upcoming primary elections to stoke chaos and conflict.
The governor further warned that anyone found culpable in disrupting public peace before, during or after the primaries will face the full weight of the law, assuring that anybody found wanting will not go unpunished.
The governor called on political stakeholders to put the interest of the State above personal ambitions, reminding residents that Gombe has remained relatively peaceful since its creation in 1996, despite security challenges confronting parts of the North-East.
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