PDP faults Gombe LG poll, alleges lack of transparency
June 30, 2026 1:28 pm
The Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State has described the recently concluded local government elections as a “mockery” of democracy, alleging that the exercise lacked transparency and failed to provide a level playing field for opposition parties.
The opposition party, which boycotted the election, also criticised the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya over recent demolitions of structures across the state and the expulsion of Gombawa Motors from the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Mega Motor Park.
The party’s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Abdulkadir-Ahmad Dukku.
PUNCH Online recalls that the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission declared the All Progressives Congress winner of all 11 chairmanship seats and the 114 councillorship positions contested in the local government elections.
Commenting on the exercise conducted by GOSIEC, the PDP maintained that the process did not meet democratic standards.
The statement partly read, “On the just-concluded Local Government Council elections, the PDP in Gombe State described the exercise as a mockery of the sensitivities of the people of Gombe State and lacking in transparency. The so-called election conducted by GOSIEC failed to mobilise opposition parties to participate in the exercise.”
The party said its decision to boycott the poll was informed by what it described as widespread irregularities.
“The Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State boycotted the election, describing it as a child’s play where ballot boxes were not taken to polling units, a repetition of the kangaroo 2024 Local Government Council elections under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s APC government in Gombe State,” the statement added.
Beyond the election, the PDP accused the state government of undermining democratic principles through its ongoing demolition exercise.
The statement continued, “The Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State wishes to express its position over the actions of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the APC government in Gombe State, which we consider immoral and a gross abuse of democratic principles and the Nigerian Constitution.”
The party alleged that the demolition of structures had created tension between the government and affected residents, while also criticising comments allegedly made by the governor in a viral video.
It further urged the governor to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens, saying, “Such vulgar utterances violate the fundamental right to the dignity of the human person, as well as the principles of democratic governance.”
The PDP also condemned the expulsion of Gombawa Motors from the Dankwambo Mega Motor Park, alleging that the action was politically motivated.
“The PDP in Gombe State also frowns at the recent expulsion of Gombawa Motors from conducting its transport business at the Dankwambo Mega Motor Park as a result of exercising the organisation’s civic right as a transport service provider,” the statement added.
It argued that members of the transport company, as citizens of Gombe State, were entitled to express their political views without intimidation and should be allowed to operate freely at the state-owned motor park.
The party called on the state government to uphold democratic values, respect the constitutional rights of citizens and ensure fairness in governance.
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