A viral video has surfaced showing a group of youths, suspected to be All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, washing and sweeping a road in Kumo, the headquarters of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State. The incident occurred after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Isa Ali Pantami, allegedly used the road on his way to Kaltungo. The video shows the youths using buckets of water and brooms to clean the road while chanting that they were cleansing the road used by the PDP candidate.
The incident happened barely two days after Pantami emerged as the winner of the fresh PDP governorship primary in Gombe State. The primary was held on September 29, following a Federal High Court judgment on September 24 that nullified the earlier primary that produced Pantami and ordered a fresh primary within 30 days. The PDP primary has been marred by controversy, with one of the aspirants, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, rejecting the outcome and insisting that Pantami was not eligible to contest.
Mailantarki, who came second in the election, argued that Pantami's participation violates a recent Supreme Court judgment on party membership. The judgment holds that persons who joined any political party after May 10, 2026, when the register of party members was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cannot vote or be voted for in that party for the 2027 elections. Mailantarki warned that fielding Pantami could expose the PDP to disqualification by INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the incident on his Facebook page, Pantami described what happened on his way from Kaltungo as an evil plan. He referenced a Quranic verse, saying, "They plot and Allah plans, and Allah is the Best of Planners." The incident has generated mixed reactions online, with PDP supporters describing it as political intolerance, while APC loyalists hailed it as a symbolic rejection of the opposition.
The controversy trailing the PDP fresh primary is yet to abate, with many stakeholders calling for calm and urging the party to focus on the 2027 general elections. The PDP primary is seen as a crucial step towards the governorship election in Gombe State, and the outcome is expected to have a significant impact on the state's political landscape.
The incident has also raised concerns about the level of politicking in Gombe State, with many calling for a reduction in the heat of the political climate. The state's political landscape has been characterized by intense rivalry between the APC and PDP, with both parties vying for control of the state.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the PDP and APC are expected to intensify their campaigns in Gombe State. The outcome of the PDP primary and the governorship election will be closely watched by stakeholders, who are eager to see how the state's political landscape will unfold. The incident has highlighted the need for politicians and their supporters to maintain a high level of decorum and respect for one another.
Key points
- APC supporters in Gombe State clean road allegedly used by PDP governorship candidate Isa Ali Pantami
- PDP primary in Gombe State marred by controversy over candidate eligibility
- Incident sparks mixed reactions online, with PDP supporters describing it as political intolerance
