Our correspondent reports that although he didn’t mention the party by name, political observers said Goje was clearly referring to the candidates fielded by the APC in the forthcoming general elections.
The APC candidate for the Gombe Central Senatorial District is; DCP Mohammed Ahmed (Rtd), while the House of Representatives candidates has Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, representing Akko Federal Constituency and Hon. Inuwa Garba, representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituencies.
According to Goje, the decision to deny him the return ticket to the Senate was a betrayal by some forces within the party who do not mean well for the people of Akko Local Government Area, Gombe Central and the state at large.
He said his supporters are free to vote for any other party, except those he mentioned, adding that loyalty should be to the APC and not to individuals who work against the interest of founding members of the party.
“A believer is not stung more than one time on the same hands, I was stung two times, do you want me to be stung again for the third time?” Goje asked the crowd.
“I will not tell you who to vote for during the 2027 general elections. But I will tell you people that you should not vote for. You should not vote for any person that denied me the ticket. Both for the Senate and House of Representatives seats for Akko and Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency,” he said.
The Senator added: “You can vote any candidate of your choice but not those who work against me getting a return ticket to the Senate. Also, you should wait for my directives on the candidates that you should not vote for the governorship and State House of Assembly seats.”
Daily Trust reports that Goje has been representing the Gombe Central Senatorial District since 2011, after his two terms as governor of the state.
But in a disputed contested primary election held last May, the Gombe State APC House of Representatives and Senate Primary Elections Committee declared DCP Mohammed Ahmed (Rtd) as the duly elected candidate for the Gombe Central Senatorial District seat.
Efforts to get a reaction from the state chapter of the APC, and the three candidates under the party were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
