High Profile PDP Leader Moves to APC Amid 2027 Political Jostle

High-Profile PDP Leader Moves to APC Amid 2027 Political Jostle

 

 

In a major political shake-up, prominent Tangale-Waja politician and businessman, Jerry Damara, has formally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that could reshape the political landscape of Gombe South ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

Damara, who is also Managing Director of Mesotho Group Limited and CEO of Kugbo International Market, presented his APC membership card to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya at the Government House in Gombe on Thursday. He was accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including three former deputy governors, four local government chairmen, four members of the Gombe State House of Assembly, and other influential stakeholders from the zone.

 

Speaking on his defection, Damara cited Governor Yahaya’s “developmental strides and inclusive governance style” as the driving force behind his decision. “From today, my loyalty to you and your administration is total. The developmental train you are driving is unstoppable, and I refuse to be left behind,” he declared.

 

He added that consultations with political elders and stakeholders across Tangale-Waja led to the resolution to end years of political fragmentation in Gombe South and fully embrace the APC. “Our team has concluded that the APC represents the future of our people, and I am here today with my membership card as a symbol of that renewed commitment,” Damara said.

 

Governor Yahaya hailed the defection as “a special and historic moment” for the APC, noting that Damara’s influence would significantly strengthen the party in Tangale-Waja. “This is a major political breakthrough for our party in Gombe South,” he said.

 

The defection comes amid a broader trend of political realignments in Gombe State. Earlier, over 1,000 members of both the APC and PDP in Lawanti, Akko LGA, defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), while opposition parties including PDP, SDP, ADC, and LP have formed a coalition under the United Group, led by PDP’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Jibrin Barde.

 

Analysts say Damara’s move is more than a personal shift; it signals a high-stakes realignment with potential implications for the state’s political dynamics in the next election cycle.