By Our Political Correspondent

The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) has intensified its political mobilisation in Gombe State, with the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Dr. Lamela L. Silas, PhD, and his running mate, Alhaji Wadaji Umar Lawan, rallying support for the party’s candidate in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election, Hon. Gaddafi Haruna.

The APM leaders, while engaging voters and supporters in the constituency, described the party as an alternative platform capable of addressing the concerns of residents, while urging electorates to support its candidate in the September 19 House of Representatives bye-election.

The party’s message centred on what its leaders described as the need for better representation, grassroots development and responsive leadership across the three local government areas.

Hon. Gaddafi Haruna is the APM candidate for the federal constituency and has campaigned on the platform of “Time for Better Representation.” He was presented by the party as its consensus candidate during its electoral process in Gombe.

Addressing supporters, Dr. Lamela Silas and Alhaji Wadaji Umar Lawan called on voters to identify with the APM candidate, saying the party represents the aspirations of people seeking a stronger voice in the National Assembly.

They said the election provides an opportunity for voters in Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas to choose a representative who, in their view, would give greater attention to constituency interests.

Their appeal came as voters across the constituency participated in the bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday.

INEC scheduled the election for September 19, 2026, following the death of the former representative of the constituency, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo. The commission said the election covers 903 polling units across 31 Registration Areas in the three local government areas.

The APM’s Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye candidate, Gaddafi Haruna, was among the candidates cleared for the contest by INEC. Other candidates on the final list included Kallamu Usman Maijama’a of the APC, Yaya Alfa Muhammad of the APP and Abdulkarim Abdulmajib of the NNPP.

Haruna’s campaign has focused on improving representation and constituency development. A profile released ahead of the election described him as a former banker who later worked in the energy sector and became involved in community mobilisation and development initiatives.

For Dr. Silas and his deputy, the mobilisation for Haruna also places the APM’s emerging political structure in Gombe under public scrutiny as the party positions itself ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The duo emerged as the APM’s Gombe governorship ticket in August, with the party highlighting their backgrounds in public administration, finance, agriculture and youth mobilisation.

The September 19 bye-election has attracted significant political attention, with nearly 496,000 registered voters across the constituency expected to participate in determining who will occupy the vacant House of Representatives seat.

As voting progressed on Saturday, reports indicated that the exercise was generally peaceful, although varying levels of voter turnout were observed in some locations.

The APM leadership urged its supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the electoral process, while expressing confidence in the party’s candidate.

With polling concluded, attention now shifts to the counting and collation of results, which will determine whether the APM’s campaign message of “better representation” translates into victory for Gaddafi Haruna at the polls.

By Our Political Correspondent

Alhaji Lawan Yusuf, Chairman of the Rice Millers’ Association of Gombe State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has cast his vote in the ongoing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election.

Yusuf, who is also the Director-General of the campaign organisation for Gombe South State House of Assembly candidate, Hon. Jabiru Saleh Kilawa, voted on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Kadiri Maitaburma 004 Polling Unit, Bolari West, Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Speaking after casting his ballot, Yusuf expressed confidence in the electoral process and said he expected the APC candidate for the federal constituency, Engineer Hon. Kallamu Usman Maijama’a, to emerge victorious.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared Kallamu Usman Maijama’a of the APC alongside four other candidates for the bye-election, which is being conducted across Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.

Yusuf commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for what he described as providing the “dividends of democracy” to the people of Gombe State.

He also called on residents of the state to sustain their support for the APC, urging voters to support APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The APC chieftain said the participation of citizens in the electoral process remained important to strengthening democracy, while expressing optimism that the exercise would be concluded peacefully.

The Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye bye-election is taking place across 903 polling units in 31 registration areas covering the three local government areas. INEC scheduled the election for September 19, 2026, following the death of the former occupant of the federal constituency seat.

Security agencies have also deployed personnel across the affected areas to safeguard voters, electoral officials and materials. The Gombe State Police Command said it had put measures in place to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election and warned against political thuggery, fake news and other activities capable of disrupting the exercise.

Yusuf’s vote at the Bolari West polling unit comes as political parties and their supporters await the outcome of the closely watched contest, which has attracted attention ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By Ahmad Abubakar Usman

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abbas Ahmad Binbass, has commended the Tudun Wadan Pantami Youth Initiative for its remarkable effort in returning more than 30 children to school in the Tudun Wadan Pantami community.

Abbas gave the commendation during a programme organised by the Tudun Wadan Pantami Youth Initiative to facilitate the return of the children to school and encourage them to pursue their education.

He described the initiative as a laudable and community-driven effort capable of contributing significantly to the educational development of the area. According to him, investing in the education of children is one of the most effective ways of preparing the younger generation for a better future and building a more developed society.

The SDP candidate expressed his appreciation to the members of the initiative for taking responsibility for the educational needs of children in their community. He said such efforts demonstrate the importance of collective action in addressing challenges affecting local communities.

Abbas also assured the people of Tudun Wadan Pantami that, if elected as a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, he would work towards attracting meaningful development to the area and supporting programmes that would improve the lives of the people, particularly in education and youth development.

Also speaking at the event, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Gombe State House of Assembly, Ubaidu Abubakar Usman, commended the Tudun Wadan Pantami Youth Initiative for what he described as a worthy and humanitarian undertaking.

Ubaidu urged the organisation not to relent in its efforts, stressing that community-based initiatives such as the school-return programme could play an important role in complementing government efforts to improve access to education.

He also called on individuals, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the initiative and similar programmes, noting that the development of Tudun Wadan Pantami requires the collective contribution of its people.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Tudun Wadan Pantami Youth Initiative, Muhammad Usman Luggerewo, said the programme was organised to encourage children who had been out of school to return to their studies and motivate them to take their education seriously.

Luggerewo explained that the initiative was established with the broader objective of contributing to the development of the community, particularly by empowering young people through education and encouraging them to become responsible citizens and good ambassadors of their community.

He said providing children with the opportunity to acquire education would not only benefit them individually but would also contribute to the long-term development of Tudun Wadan Pantami.

Some participants at the event also highlighted the importance of education to individual and community development, describing it as a fundamental tool for building a productive and responsible society.

They pledged their continued support and contributions towards initiatives aimed at improving education and promoting the overall development of Tudun Wadan Pantami.

The event brought together community members, youths, stakeholders and other well-wishers, who expressed their support for the initiative and called for sustained efforts to ensure that more children in the community have access to education.