No fewer than 712 accredited delegates out of 784 expected on Saturday, elected officials of the All Progressives Congress in Gombe State, as the former governor Danjuma Goje, now senator representing Gombe central was conspicuously absent.
Goje, one of the top three reportedly interested in the chairmanship position of the governing party, has been absent from APC activities since the perceived clog in his relationship with the governor, Muhammadu Yahaya.
Speaking at the Pantami Township Stadium, Chairman, Congress Committee, Dr. Danjuma Dabo, adjudged the congress as successful, adding that aggrieved members should channel their grouse to the appropriate authority.
The consensus for the state executives produced 36 persons, with 80 per cent of the former cabinet returning including the caretaker committee chairman, Nitte Amangal.
Dabo said, “They came out with consensus of all the people they zoned to them and they have given us the list. We have come here today as we have done in the past. It has been done peacefully, as you can attest. We are happy the entire process was successful.
“We got affirmation from 712 out of 784, which is a very good number due to those who couldn’t make it. When we asked for a voice vote, all the 712 agreed and we asked for any dissenting voice and there was none.”
He added, “It is duly spelt out with room for appeal. You can write your petition or appeal to the appeal committee. Let me tell you, if there was an appeal, you would have seen protest and people saying they don’t agree but there is no dissenting voice.”
Also speaking, Governor Yahaya said with the smooth conduct of the party elections, the party is ready to retain power in the state.
Yahaya said, “Our unity is our strength, We are united and we are courageous. We are not afraid of anybody in Gombe as far as election is concerned and we are ready for them any day anytime.
“You can see that we are solid. I don’t doubt the loyalty of our party men and the leadership, and we will ask them to do more.”
He reiterated the commitment of the newly constituted leadership, stressing that the state is ready for the 2023 polls.
“I expect that the leadership will stir us to the next level. I have no doubt with the calibre and capacity of the tenacity of these people. Gombe is ready for election come 2023,” he added.
On his part, Gombe State APC chairman, Amangal said his cabinet would approach aggrieved members to sort out the challenges.
“As of now, we don’t have factions. For those aggrieved, we will go to them to resolve issues to bring our party APC in order,” Amangal said.