Ahead of the Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, a coalition of 13 political parties in Gombe State has endorsed the candidature of Senators Danjuma Goje and Ibrahim Dankwambo.
Goje, a former governor of the state was seeking re-election for Gombe Central senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
While Dankwabo, also a two-time governor of the state was contesting election for Gombe North senatorial district under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The Spokesman of the coaliation, Muhammad Mahdi-Dodo stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Gombe.
He said the parties threw their support behind the candidature of Goje and Dankwabo having properly scrutinised their political impacts on the lives of citizens of the state.
Mahdi-Doho, who doubled as Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said they were convinced that all the endorsed candidates would deliver good governance to the people of the state.
He listed the parties to include Accord Party (AP); Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action People’s Party (APP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Others are Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Boot Party (BP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).
According to Mahdi-Doho, the coalition also endorsed four other candidates vying various seats in the National Assembly under the platform of the PDP.
“We have endorsed Mr Anthony Yaro of PDP for Gombe South senatorial district, and Isa Ali of the PDP for Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency.
“Also Aishatu Ahmad of the PDP for Akko Federal Constituency and Inuwa Garba of the PDP for Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency,” he said.
Also, Mr Kelmi Lazarus, the Chairman of the SDP and the party’s governorship candidate in the state, said the endorsement was based on ability of the candidates to deliver good governance.
He said they were not concerned about party affiliation rather “our focus is on candidates’ credibility and integrity to deliver good governance irrespective of political party affiliations”.
He noted that Goje, Dankwambo and other endorsed candidates were the most capable and competent amongst other contestants, adding “that’s why we endorsed them for the interest of the people”.
Asked who is bankrolling the alliance, Lazarus said, “we are not materialistic; money is out of it.
“We are focused on value to humanity and we perceived politics from issues-based perspective”.
Goje is currently the senator representing Gombe Central senatorial district.
While Dankwambo is recontesting for the Gombe North senatorial district having lost to Sen. Saidu Alkali of the APC in the 2019 general election.