The political landscape in Gombe State has witnessed another significant shift ahead of the 2027 general election following the resignation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Secretary for Gombe Local Government Area, Hon. Babangida Usman, who has officially joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support the governorship ambition of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The latest defection adds momentum to the growing political realignments taking place in Gombe since Pantami emerged as the PDP governorship candidate. It also underscores the increasing competition among political parties as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
Babangida Usman, popularly known across political circles as “Babangida Ventures,” confirmed that he had resigned from his position as the ADC Local Government Secretary before completing the process of registering as a member of the PDP.
Speaking on his decision, Usman explained that his move was motivated by his confidence in Professor Pantami’s leadership credentials and his belief that the former Minister possesses the experience, vision and competence needed to provide effective governance for Gombe State.
According to him, Pantami represents one of the most credible personalities seeking to lead the State in the next election cycle.
He noted that after carefully assessing the political environment and the calibre of aspirants expected to contest the governorship election, he became convinced that Pantami offers the strongest prospect for sustainable development, improved governance and accelerated economic growth in Gombe.
Usman said his decision was not influenced by personal political gain but by what he described as a genuine desire to contribute to the State’s future through supporting a candidate he believes can deliver meaningful progress.
He added that joining the PDP would enable him to participate more actively in mobilising grassroots support for Pantami’s governorship campaign ahead of the 2027 poll.
The former ADC official expressed optimism that Pantami’s administration, if elected, would introduce policies capable of strengthening education, expanding economic opportunities, improving infrastructure and creating an inclusive government that prioritises the welfare of residents.
His defection comes at a time when political alignments are becoming increasingly pronounced across Gombe State, with politicians from different political parties repositioning themselves ahead of the governorship contest.
Since emerging as the PDP governorship candidate, Pantami has continued to attract endorsements and declarations of support from various political stakeholders and supporters across party lines.
Pantami’s emergence followed his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he withdrew from the Party’s governorship primary after alleging irregularities in the nomination process. Shortly after leaving the APC, he joined the PDP and secured the Party’s governorship ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted by Party delegates.
His nomination has remained one of the biggest political developments in Gombe ahead of the 2027 election, attracting both supporters and critics within the State’s political space.
While several politicians have welcomed his emergence as the PDP standard-bearer, some PDP aspirants earlier challenged the process that produced him, arguing that due process was not fully observed.
Despite the disagreements, Pantami has maintained his commitment to contesting the governorship election under the PDP platform, promising to focus on reducing poverty, promoting inclusive governance and expanding development opportunities across Gombe State.
Political observers believe the continuous influx of supporters from rival political parties could reshape the dynamics of the governorship race over the coming months.
The defection of a serving local government party secretary is also being viewed as another indication that political structures are beginning to evolve well ahead of the official campaign period.
Analysts say such movements are likely to continue as politicians evaluate their electoral prospects and align themselves with candidates they believe stand the strongest chance of success.
For the PDP in Gombe, Usman’s decision is expected to strengthen its grassroots mobilisation efforts, particularly within Gombe Local Government Area, where political organisation and ward-level structures play an important role during elections.
Supporters of Pantami have continued to project confidence that the growing endorsements reflect increasing acceptance of his candidacy across different segments of the State.
Meanwhile, political activities are expected to intensify as parties continue consultations, recruit new members and consolidate their support bases ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
With more than a year before voters head to the polls, observers expect additional defections, endorsements and strategic alliances to shape the political contest in Gombe State.
Whether these shifting loyalties ultimately translate into electoral victory remains to be seen, but the latest move by Babangida Usman highlights the rapidly evolving political atmosphere as parties prepare for one of the State’s most closely watched governorship elections in recent years.