Former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Gombe State scheduled for May 21.
Alkali said he was stepping down over alleged irregularities and a lack of credibility in the process.
His decision came hours after former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, also withdrew from the race.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Umar Alkali Jibrin, the former senator said his decision to boycott the exercise was informed by what he described as a gross abuse of constitutional and statutory provisions guiding party primaries.
He said that despite purchasing nomination forms, undergoing screening and securing clearance to contest, recent developments within the APC had convinced him that the process would not produce a transparent outcome.
Alkali specifically cited the conduct of the House of Representatives and Senate primaries held on May 16 and 18 in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye, Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituencies and Gombe Central Senatorial District, alleging that results were announced without credible elections taking place.
According to him, the exercises were marred by manipulation, lack of transparency, exclusion of stakeholders and violations of electoral guidelines.
“The exercise lacks the basic hallmarks of a credible democratic process as clearly manifested by the absence of voting materials, electoral personnel, monitors and logistics,” the statement said.
Alkali further accused party officials of failing to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing direct primaries and said he feared the governorship primary would suffer the same shortcomings.
He urged the national leadership of the APC to cancel what he described as unjust primaries in affected parts of the state and set up a fresh committee to conduct transparent and credible exercises.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and party leaders had earlier described the exercise across the state as peaceful, credible and in line with electoral provisions.
With the withdrawal of the two top aspirants, the consensus candidate, Dr. Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, will contest against Dr. Aminu Umar Yuguda.
