Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Gombe State have intensified calls on the party’s national and state leadership to reject any move by a former lawmaker, Ali JC, to secure the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa PUNCH reports that Ali JC was a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives and an erstwhile member of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency before he recently defected to the APC.
The call was contained in a strongly worded statement issued on Monday by a policy analyst and APC stakeholder, Kirgit Amlai, who warned that admitting the politician into the party’s fold as a candidate would undermine unity and reward what he described as years of opposition against the ruling party.
Amlai urged key party leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, to take a firm stance on the issue.
“The APC in Gombe State stands at a crossroads. The integrity, cohesion, and future of our party depend on the decisions we make today regarding membership and candidacy,” Amlai stated.
He alleged that Ali JC has a history of opposition to the APC, citing legal battles following his 2019 electoral defeat to Hon. Victor-Mela Danzaria, which he described as attempts to distract the party and drain its resources.
“Rewarding such behaviour with a party ticket would set a dangerous precedent, signalling that obstructionism is a valid path to political advancement within our ranks,” he insisted.
Amlai also raised concerns about representation in the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, noting that the Tangale-Waja people have yet to produce a governor or federal minister since 1999.
“Our constituency requires leadership committed to correcting these systemic imbalances. What we have seen instead is a culture of division and misinformation,” he added.
On performance, he criticised Ali JC’s legislative record, alleging failure to sustain key initiatives, including the Federal Medical Centre Billiri project, just as he also questioned claims of significant personal financial contributions to constituency development.
“In an era where the APC prides itself on accountability, such claims demand scrutiny, not endorsement,” Amlai stressed.
He further accused the former lawmaker of anti-party activities during the 2023 elections, alleging that he and his supporters worked against APC candidates, pointing out that the party must place principle above political convenience.
“Politics is about conviction, not convenience. The APC must not become a refuge for those who have spent years trying to dismantle its structure,” he cautioned while concluding that the leadership must safeguard the party’s credibility.
“For the peace of our constituency, the unity of Gombe State, and the credibility of our great party, the APC leadership must shut the door on Ali JC,” he highlighted.
Supporting Amlai’s position, another APC stakeholder, Hon. Suleiman Buba (Billiri), said the party must prioritise long-standing members who have remained loyal through difficult times.
“There are credible and committed APC members who have built this party from the ground up in Billiri and Balanga. It would be unjust to sideline them for someone who only recently joined,” he observed.
Similarly, a youth leader in the constituency, Comrade Yakubu Sambo, warned that imposing candidates with questionable loyalty could create internal divisions ahead of 2027.
“The APC can not afford to discourage its faithful. Those who stood with the party when it mattered most deserve the opportunity to represent the people,” he lamposted.
Meanwhile, Suleiman Ahaziah, the media aide to Alli JC, while speaking to our correspondent in a telephone chat, debunked claims that his principal is enjoying undue advantage.
He said, “His work is what is speaking for him. People in Gombe have generally acknowledged his good works in Balanga/Billiri, so who is giving him the advantage, if I may ask? The governor has not singled out any candidate; all aspirants are on their own.”
Ahaziah continued, stressing, “The time has not come for the primaries, and no one has been denied the purchase of forms to express interest in contesting. It is open to all interested persons from Balanga/Billiri.
“Whoever has anything to show for what he or she has done for the people should come out and present it. Hon. Ali Isa JC has not yet gone to the party secretariat, so how can people claim that he is being favoured?
“The media can judge, as he has never hidden his good works—they are in the public domain and clearly visible,” Alli JC’s media aide defended.
Concluding, Ahaziah pointed out, “Or is it because the ordinary person on the street is talking about his goodwill and kind-heartedness? No one is favouring any candidate or anyone’s aspiration. Others should also showcase what they have done, if they have done anything at all. He is just like any other aspirant, trying to win the hearts of the people by continuing his good works. He has never stopped working and identifying with the people of his constituency.”
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