Political uncertainty deepened in Gombe State on Saturday as former governor and four-term senator, Danjuma Goje, denied defecting from the All Progressives Congress but stopped short of committing his political future to the ruling party, telling supporters to remain loyal and await his “final order.”
Goje, who represents Gombe Central in the Senate, spoke amid mounting speculation over his next move after his name was omitted from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The development has thrown the political future of one of Gombe State’s most influential politicians into sharp focus, particularly after he failed to secure the APC ticket to return to the Senate.
Addressing supporters at his residence in Gombe, Goje said he had not defected to any political party but confirmed that consultations with stakeholders were ongoing.
“Do not listen to betrayers, go home, prepare, be loyal to our party leaders and wait for my final order,” he told the gathering.
He added, “I am not defecting to any party now, however I am consulting stakeholders, but I promise I will be with my supporters with or without a Senate ticket.”
The carefully worded declaration appeared designed to calm speculation over an immediate defection while leaving his political options open ahead of the 2027 elections.
Goje’s remarks come against the backdrop of a bruising battle for the APC Gombe Central senatorial ticket.
The former governor contested the party’s primary but lost the ticket, with Mohammed Ahmed emerging as the APC candidate for the district.
His supporters had earlier kicked against the party’s consensus arrangement that displaced him as the proposed candidate, questioning the process and raising concerns about the handling of the senatorial contest.
The controversy intensified after INEC released its final list of candidates earlier in August without Goje’s name among those contesting the Gombe Central Senate seat.
His exclusion effectively raises the stakes over whether the veteran politician will remain in the APC without a senatorial ticket, throw his weight behind the party’s candidate or pursue his political ambition on another platform.
Speculation over the last option has intensified following reports of overtures from opposition politicians, including suggestions that the Peoples Democratic Party could provide an alternative route for the former governor.
Goje, however, has refused to be drawn into announcing a switch.
Instead, his message on Saturday was one of patience, consultation and political readiness — a position likely to keep both supporters and rivals guessing.
For a politician who has remained a major force in Gombe politics for more than two decades, the uncertainty surrounding his next move could have wider implications for the state’s political calculations ahead of 2027.
Goje served as governor of Gombe State from 2003 to 2011 before moving to the Senate, where he has represented Gombe Central continuously since 2011. He secured another term in 2023, extending his stay in the upper legislative chamber.
His extensive political structure and longstanding influence in Gombe Central mean any decision to remain with the APC, back another candidate or seek an alternative platform could reshape alignments ahead of the general elections.
For now, however, Goje is keeping his cards close to his chest.
His supporters have been told to remain loyal, prepare politically and wait.
And with the senator promising a “final order” only after consultations are concluded, attention across Gombe is now fixed on what could become one of the state’s most consequential political decisions ahead of 2027.
