Gombe Lawmaker Leaves APC After Losing Reps Ticket
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdullahi El-Rasheed, popularly known as Bala Kelly, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing out in the party’s consensus arrangement for the Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency ticket. The lawmaker announced his decision in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Waziri North Ward, Dukku […]
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdullahi El-Rasheed, popularly known as Bala Kelly, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing out in the party’s consensus arrangement for the Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency ticket.
The lawmaker announced his decision in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Waziri North Ward, Dukku LGA, Gombe State.
Elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), El-Rasheed left the party for APC in February 2026.
In a letter dated February 1, 2026, and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Waziri North Ward, he said his exit was informed by what he described as prolonged internal crisis in the party.
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“Following comprehensive and thorough assessment of recent developments within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly the protracted internal crisis which led to factionalisation, conflicting claims of leadership and erosion of unity and cohesion, I hereby write to formally notify you of my resignation from the PDP, with immediate effect,” he stated.
However, his stay in the APC was short-lived after the party’s consensus arrangement in Gombe produced Alhaji Jamilu Ahmed Shabewa as candidate for the Dukku/Nafada House of Representatives seat.
Following the development, El-Rasheed, in a post on his Facebook page, said losing reps ticket under APC was not the outcome he prayed for, asking his supporters to remain calm and await the next line of action.
He, however, later announced his defection from the APC, citing concerns over fairness, justice and fair play.
The APC stakeholders had earlier adopted consensus candidates during a meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
The arrangement, however, generated controversy, with some aspirants rejecting it and others calling for direct primaries.
Among those who opposed the process was Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central, who accused the party of excluding key stakeholders.
Goje, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate, lost the ticket to retired DCP Mohammed Ahmadu Deba.
Senator Siyako Anthony Yaro, representing Gombe South, on Saturday defected from the APC to his former party, PDP, after losing senatorial ticket to Joseph Jerry Damara.
Yaro said his decision followed consultations with political associates, community leaders and supporters across his constituency.
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and governorship aspirant, Isa Ali Pantami, also criticised the consensus arrangement that produced Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna as the APC governorship candidate.
Pantami subsequently submitted his nomination form at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, insisting the process did not reflect genuine consensus.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Pantami said, “By God’s truth, in terms of justice, what happened in Gombe State cannot be called a consensus. Consensus means that everyone agrees,”
Former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, also a governorship aspirant, kicked against the outcome of the consensus, describing the process as undemocratic and inconsistent with the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act.
Amid the growing concerns, APC governorship candidate in the state, Jamilu Isiyaka Gwamna, urged party members to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on all members of our great party, the APC, those who contested and those who supported the various contestants, to close ranks and come together,” he said in a chat with journalists.
Meanwhile, the Gombe State chapter of the APC had defended its adoption of a consensus arrangement for selecting candidates for elective positions in the state.
In a statement last week Monday, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Moses Kyari, said the decision was aimed at fostering unity and avoiding disputes often associated with primary elections.
He, however, noted that the party remains open to all aspirants and has acknowledged the concerns raised by some of them.