Governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress in Gombe State, Said Ahmed Alkali, has announced his withdrawal from the party’s forthcoming gubernatorial primary election, citing alleged widespread irregularities and violations of electoral guidelines in recent primaries conducted in the state.
Alkali resigned his appointment as Minister of Transportation in April to contest the gubernatorial poll.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Umar Jibrin, which was obtained from facebook timeline, Alkali said he would boycott the APC governorship primary scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, describing the exercise as lacking credibility.
Recall that Alkali had toured Gombe metropolis on a rally, urging voters to defend their votes.
According to the statement, the former aspirant said his decision became necessary following what he described as the flawed conduct of the APC House of Representatives and Senate primaries held in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye, Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituencies, and Gombe Central Senatorial District on May 16 and 18, 2026.
Alkali alleged that the outcomes of the elections were predetermined and failed to meet democratic standards.
“It is sad to note that the results in the above areas were concocted as no actual election was conducted with any measure of fairness, inclusivity, and credibility,” he said.
He further accused party officials of violating provisions of Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates political parties to conduct direct primaries in line with their guidelines.
“The so-called House of Representatives and Senate primaries in the affected areas of the state witnessed the highest degree of manipulation, irregularities, absence of transparency, lack of inclusiveness, and violations of the rights of aspirants to participate with guaranteed equity, justice, and impartiality,” the statement added.
The APC chieftain also claimed that the exercises were marred by the absence of voting materials, electoral personnel, monitors, and logistics, insisting that the process lacked the “basic hallmarks of a credible democratic process.”
Despite withdrawing from the race, Alkali reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“He remains grateful to the party, his teeming supporters, and the good people of Gombe State for remaining determined, calm, and focused, in spite of the ongoing injustices against democratic practice,” the statement read.
Alkali, however, appealed to the national leadership of the APC to cancel the disputed primaries in the affected areas and constitute a high-powered committee to conduct fresh and credible exercises in line with the Constitution, Electoral Act, and party guidelines.
