The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has formally presented Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms to its governorship and National Assembly candidates, marking a key step in the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Governor Muhammadu Yahaya presided over the brief ceremony at the Government House, Gombe, where the forms were handed to the party’s flag bearers. The event signified the conclusion of APC’s direct primaries and the commencement of the legal process of submitting candidates’ details to INEC.

According to the Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Misilli, the presentation confirmed the candidates as the party’s duly nominated representatives for the elections.

The governorship candidate, Dr. Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, received his nomination form after emerging victorious in the party’s primary election.

Senatorial candidates also received their forms:

Governor Muhammadu Yahaya for Gombe North

Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Ahmed Deba for Gombe Central

House of Representatives candidates included Usman Kumo (Akko), Ali Isa JC (Balanga/Billiri), Fatima Bello (Kaltungo/Shongom), Inuwa Garba (Yamaltu/Deba), Sadam Bello (Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye), and Jamilu Shabewa (Dukku/Nafada).

Governor Yahaya congratulated the candidates, describing their emergence as a reflection of confidence reposed in them by party members. He urged them to view their nomination as a call to responsibility and service.

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“The issuance of these nomination forms marks the completion of our party’s internal nomination process and the commencement of the legal process for submission to INEC in line with the Electoral Act and the Commission’s guidelines,” he said.

He reminded the candidates to complete all required documentation and ensure compliance with INEC’s Candidate Nomination Portal.

Yahaya emphasised the importance of unity and discipline as the party moves into the next phase of electioneering. He urged candidates to sustain grassroots mobilisation and maintain cohesion within the party.

“As we move into the next phase of the electoral process, I urge you to remain focused, disciplined and united. Cohesion within our party and sustained grassroots engagement will be critical to our success,” he said.

The governor expressed confidence in the capacity of the candidates to deliver effective representation. He described Dr. Gwamna and the National Assembly candidates as experienced and credible leaders capable of advancing the aspirations of Gombe people.

“I have every confidence that our governorship candidate and all our National Assembly candidates have the experience, capacity and credibility to represent the aspirations of the people of Gombe State with distinction,” Yahaya stated.

The presentation of nomination forms in Gombe underscores APC’s readiness for the 2027 elections. With its candidates now officially recognised, the party enters the next stage of the electoral process, focusing on documentation, compliance, and mobilisation ahead of submission to INEC.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has restated its Devotion to expanding opportunities for women in politics and governance, with National Secretary Senator Surajudeen Basiru urging Nigerian women in the diaspora to play a central role in mobilising support for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the APC Diaspora/Global Women Summit in Rome, Italy, Basiru described Nigerian women abroad as one of the nation’s greatest strategic assets. He noted their achievements in diverse fields such as medicine, law, engineering, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, and technology, stressing that their contributions through remittances, investments, philanthropy, and advocacy remain vital to Nigeria’s development.

“The APC acknowledges that diaspora women are not mere supporters of government programmes but strategic partners in the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Basiru said. He added that their international connections and technical expertise could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s democratic and economic institutions.

Basiru emphasised that gender inclusion is a core pillar of the APC’s political philosophy. He assured that the party would continue to encourage women’s participation in leadership, policy formulation, party administration, and electoral mobilisation.

“As a party, we are committed to increasing opportunities for women within the structures of the party and in public governance. We believe inclusive leadership achieves better governance outcomes,” he said.

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He also highlighted plans to strengthen collaboration with diaspora chapters through structured platforms for engagement, policy dialogue, investment promotion, and leadership development.

Basiru tied the call for women’s mobilisation to President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms. He pointed to the removal of fuel subsidy, increased crude oil production, and fiscal reforms as measures that have created space for infrastructure and social investments.

He cited major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Lagos-Sokoto Superhighway, and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road reconstruction as evidence of the administration’s commitment to national development. He also noted that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to over $51 billion, the highest in 17 years.

Basiru further praised women serving in Tinubu’s administration, saying their contributions have been central to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, Basiru urged diaspora women to foster civic engagement, counter misinformation, mentor young women, and expand the party’s global outreach. He stressed that their involvement would help consolidate democratic governance and ensure continuity of reforms.

“You are ambassadors of Nigeria, promoting our democratic values and serving as a bridge between Nigeria and the international community,” he said.

The APC’s renewed emphasis on women’s inclusion reflects broader efforts to strengthen its political base ahead of 2027. By positioning diaspora women as strategic partners, the party seeks to harness their influence, resources, and expertise to reinforce its governance agenda and electoral prospects.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged a fresh plan to block the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from participating in the 2027 general elections. He warned that such a move would represent a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy and undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.

Atiku, who is the ADC’s presidential candidate, claimed he had received credible information suggesting that elements within the ruling establishment were coordinating political and legal manoeuvres to keep the party off the ballot.

According to him, the alleged plot is part of a broader campaign to weaken opposition parties and limit Nigerians’ electoral choices. “We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative,” he said.

Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to determine which opposition parties should contest the election. He argued that if the APC was confident in its popularity, it should not fear competition from the ADC.

He described the alleged strategy as a recurring pattern where neutral institutions are drawn into partisan disputes, frivolous litigations gain momentum, and administrative powers are selectively deployed against opposition figures.

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“The pattern has become all too familiar. First, institutions that ought to be neutral are drawn into partisan contests. Then, frivolous litigations suddenly gain unusual momentum. Administrative powers are selectively deployed. Political pressure is mounted behind closed doors. Before long, democracy itself becomes the casualty,” he said.

Atiku criticised the ruling party for focusing more on silencing opposition voices than addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges. He pointed to hunger, inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and declining purchasing power as issues that require urgent governance attention.

“The obsession with silencing the opposition has become so consuming that governance itself has taken a back seat,” he noted.

Insisting that the ADC’s growing popularity should be met through democratic competition, Atiku said elections must be decided by voters, not through legal or administrative suppression.

“The proper response to a popular political movement is not suppression. It is to present superior ideas before the electorate. Democracies are won at the ballot box, not in back rooms, not through manipulated court processes, and certainly not through the abuse of state institutions,” he declared.

Atiku urged the judiciary to resist political pressure and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations, and the international community to remain vigilant against actions that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

“No administration has the constitutional authority to determine which political party Nigerians are permitted to vote for. Sovereignty belongs to the people—not to those who temporarily wield power,” he said.

The statement comes amid heightened political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi have adopted the ADC as a platform for building a coalition aimed at challenging the APC.

Recent months have seen both the ruling party and opposition groups trade accusations over attempts to weaken rival platforms through litigation and internal crises.

As of press time, neither the Presidency, the APC, nor INEC had responded to Atiku’s allegations.