How Alkali’s resignation alters Gombe governorship race

The late Tuesday night resignation of the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, to contest the governorship seat in Gombe State in the upcoming elections, has already charged up the political atmosphere in the state. Our correspondent reports that the development has jolted leaders of  the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Governor […]

The late Tuesday night resignation of the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, to contest the governorship seat in Gombe State in the upcoming elections, has already charged up the political atmosphere in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the development has jolted leaders of  the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s camp and other stakeholders.

Prior to the resignation of the minister, the Governor was said to be considering backing  the state’s Accountant-General, Dr Aminu Umar Yuguda, or the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji or Arch. Yunusa Yakubu, a business man believed to be his close associate.

There are also other political giants in the race, like  Islamic scholar cum politician, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the immediate past Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, who recently revalidated his APC electronic membership, marking his formal entrance into partisan politics. Pantami is a respected Islamic cleric with a vast following among virtually all the major sects.

Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, a one-time gubernatorial candidate in the state who commands large supporters base, especially at the grassroots.

Third time member and Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Usman Bello Kumo and a business mogul cum politician, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga (Sarkin Fulani), are among other politicians in the APC Alkali has to contend  with to clinch the coveted party’s ticket.

Director Generla Press Affairs, Governemtn House, Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misili, said however that the Governor has no chosen candidate as he has not come out to tell anyone that he is supporting any of them. 

However, as at March 31 when the deadline for presidential directive requiring political appointees seeking elective offices to step down from their current roles, Senator Alkali is the only aspirant eyeing the governorship seat that publicly resigned his position and announced his intention to contest for the seat.

Political observers say Senator Alkali’s resignation and formal entry into the race, has made some aspirants jittery, going by his strong backing and connection in the Villa. 

Alkali first came to prominence in 2003, after former of the state, Governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje won the 2003 gubernatorial election and appointed him as the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

In 2007, he was appointed Commissioner of Information during Goje’s second tenure. He was elected as Senator for the Gombe North senatorial district in August 2010 by-elections, after the death of the incumbent, Senator Kawu Peto Dukku.

He emerged as the consensus candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), primarily because he was an indigene of Dukku Local Government Area, late Kawu Peto’s LGA. He was re-elected in the 2011 general elections.

He didn’t contest in the 2015 general elections and later defected to the APC in 2017, where he contested and defeated the then incumbent Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo in the 2019 general elections.

He served in the 6th, 7th and 9th Assembly, chairing various Senate standing committees.

However, Senator Alkali lost the Gombe North Senatorial seat to former governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo in the 2023 general elections, in a poll that was described as a re-match of the 2019 polls.

Pundits say Alkali is one of the luckiest politicians in the state because after losing the senatorial election, he was compensated with a ministerial position, as Minister of Transportation in August 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

There are however hurdles that the former minister has to scale to get the APC ticket though sources say he must have done his homework well before leaving the Federal Executive Council, FEC.

The first is that he is perceived as not being the Governor’s favourite in the race and this may work against him during the primaries where the Governor controls the structure of the party.

His appointment as minister has however added to his clout as he is seen as close to the powers that be in Abuja and many are intimidated by that standing.

However, Senator Alkali’s major problem is said to be his inaccessibility as many in his constituency say they had no direct links with him during his time as a legislator and minister.

Politicians and other stakeholders that worked for his victory in previous elections also say they would have preferred if he had made himself more available ‘since he is dealing with the people’

During his time as a minister, he has been urged to look into the unemployment challenges bedeviling the state wished he had brought the Federal Government’s attention to the deplorable condition of the Gombe-Dukku Road, an important yet abandoned federal road in the state.

A political observer, Abu-Ubaida Ibrahim Kuna, described Saidu Alkali’s resignation to pursue the governorship seat as a high-stake gamble.

He said this is because it is an entrenched tradition of Nigerian politics,that a sitting governor holds significant influence over who succeeds him, therefore, Alkali’s plan to bypass the governor by leveraging connections through the office of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and even the First Lady might be a political miscalculation.

Kuna said, “Beyond the question of strategy lies a deeper concern, the issue of acceptability. Politics is not just about securing a ticket; it is about winning elections and governing effectively. A viable successor must command respect across a wide spectrum of stakeholders: traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, labour unions, business communities and party loyalists, as well as elder statesmen and grassroots mobilisers.”

While some residents of the state suggest that, though such high-level endorsements may carry weight in Abuja, politics at the state level especially in Gombe is a different terrain entirely. “It is local, deeply personal, and heavily influenced by loyalty networks built over time.”

Also, critics describe Senator Alkali as politically disconnected from key blocs within the state, with strained relationships across critical segments.

However, Alkali’s supporters said their principal’s resignation is a bold step toward a greater mission, the service and progress of the state.  

One of the strong supporters, Sabo Sani Labaran, said Senator Alkali is not a stranger to leadership, sacrifice, and grassroots politics. 

“A three-time Senator who represented the good people of Gombe North with distinction, he built a reputation anchored on accessibility, empowerment, and effective representation. His political journey reflects consistency, experience, and a deep understanding of the needs of our people,” he said.

According to him, Alkali is a bridge builder, a grassroots mobiliser, and a leader who understands both governance and political dynamics of the state.

Hon. Labaran added that Akali’s loyalty and commitment to Governor Yahaya, stand as a testament to his character of loyalty and a person who placed party unity and progress above personal ambition.

However, a Professor in the Department of Political Studies and Public Administration, University of Namibia, Babayo Sule said, for a minister to resign his appointment to pursue a political contest particularly, governorship seat, he must have a conviction that he stands a strong chance of securing the nomination and winning the primaries. 

“However, for Senator Sa’idu Alkali, it is also going to be much more difficult. Of course, resigning and joining the race makes APC primaries fierce and interesting in Gombe State. But he is facing strong contenders some are rumoured to have been tacitly anointed by the seating Governor himself. 

“Aside Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, who remains a formidable force in the race with network within and outside the state, the Governor is believed to have been covertly supporting his Accountant-General to succeed him and also recently, his friends and close associate, Architect Yunusa Yakubu. 

Prof. Sule said it is well known that no matter how strong a contender is, picking the ticket depends heavily on the support of the incumbent. 

He added, “Although, Senator Sa’idu Alkali might have closed the gap by carving alliances with those closer to the Villa during his ministerial assignment which is an edge, the presidency will not prevail upon any governor on imposing a candidate especially, when it relies on them for 2027 victory. 

The political scientist stated that securing the ticket will depend on three major factors; “support from the incumbent Governor Yahaya, lobby from Abuja, and domestic network at the local level. But Alkali and all other candidates cannot claim to have all the three factors.”

Our correspondent observed that the resignation of the minister has shown that he is serious about contesting the governorship position and that he may be relying on something that many are not yet sure about as he was said to have had high level discussions with top people in the Tinubu government before he dropped his resignation.

This has caused all the blocs in the state to go back to the drawing board.