Gombe 2027: Can APC’s Jamilu Gwamna Overcome Pantami and Other Political Hurdles?

Paul Orude

Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Gombe State in the forthcoming 2027 general elections. Gwamna, who enjoys considerable popularity despite being the anointed candidate of incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya, may find it difficult to emerge as the next governor of Gombe State if current events, political permutations and sentiments, which are not unusual in politics, are anything to go by.

Despite being one of the heavyweight contenders in the race to succeed Inuwa Yahaya, the odds against Gwamna appear enormous.

Biography of Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna

Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna is a businessman and politician widely known by his traditional title, Sardaunan Gombe. He is undoubtedly one of the influential political figures in Gombe State.

Born on 5 December 1965 in Gombe State, Gwamna received his early education in the state. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a Master of Science degree in Business Economics and Finance, and a doctorate degree in Economics from London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Gwamna began his career at the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry and later worked at the Kaduna Aluminium Company, where he held senior accounting and management positions. He subsequently founded Amstrade Ventures Limited, an indigenous company specialising in heavy-duty equipment and industrial services, through which he established himself as a successful entrepreneur.

In 2013, he was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), one of Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies. At KEDCO, Gwamna led significant operational reforms, expanded customer service infrastructure, promoted metering initiatives, strengthened distribution networks and introduced technology-driven improvements aimed at enhancing electricity service delivery across Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states. His leadership earned him recognition within Nigeria’s power sector.

Strengths of Jamilu Gwamna

Let us first examine his strengths. The fact that he bears the name Gwamna, which means governor in Hausa, is quite significant in the context of his political ambition.

Gwamna is certainly not a pushover. A wealthy businessman, public figure and politician, he is not a newcomer to the political landscape. He has remained a visible figure in the APC in Gombe State.

His political career began in 1999 when he served as Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Water Board. Over the years, he has contested the Gombe State governorship under different political platforms and remained an influential figure in the state’s political landscape.

In 2026, he emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election, presenting a development agenda focused on economic diversification, infrastructure, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and human capital development.

Having defeated other contenders in the APC governorship primaries, Gwamna now faces the challenge of overcoming notable political figures, including former Minister of Communications, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, to realise his governorship ambition.

He is therefore a prominent member of the ruling APC, a position that gives him access to the party’s political structure and federal influence. He also enjoys the backing of a sitting governor as the preferred successor to Yahaya.

Gwamna is undoubtedly a popular politician, particularly among young people, partly because of his considerable financial resources and appeal within his age bracket. These factors constitute important assets in his quest to become the next governor of Gombe State.

The Odds Against Jamilu Gwamna

The APC governorship candidate in Gombe State faces several political challenges.

Although the people of Gombe South may not necessarily have any personal grievances against him, many constituents from the district appear to be looking for an opportunity to pay Governor Inuwa Yahaya back at the polls.

When Yahaya entered the political race to become governor, he received massive support from Gombe South, which contributed significantly to his electoral victory. Unfortunately, many of those who supported him are now unhappy with his administration. They believe he used and abandoned them.

They still harbour resentment towards Yahaya over what they perceive as his failure to reciprocate their support and may consequently vote against his party.

To make matters worse, the governor is contesting for the Gombe North senatorial on the platform of the APC while former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who enjoys considerable goodwill among sections of the electorate, is contesting for Gombe South on the platform of PDP.  This means that Gwmana’s APC have the PDP to contend with, because of the personality nloved. The perceived unpopularity of Yahaya could therefore work against the APC in Gombe South and, by extension, Gwamna’s governorship ambition.

Another factor that could count against Gwamna is the strained relationship between Governor Yahaya and former Governor and Senator Danjuma Goje.  Senator Goje lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Gombe Central Senatorial District on May 18, 2026. He thereafter denied rumour of defecting from APC. Although both politicians belong to the same party, they are not known to enjoy a particularly cordial relationship.

Goje’s absence from the inauguration of the APC campaign 666-member team in Gombe State despite his inclusion is widely interpreted as a significant political statement. Observers of political developments in the state also believe that the frosty relationship between Goje and Yahaya does not augur well for Gwamna’s ambition.

The emergence of former Minister of Communications, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, has also unsettled Gwamna’s political calculations. Pantami’s growing popularity could pose a serious challenge to Gwamna’s ambition of becoming governor of Gombe State.

This is particularly because Pantami appears to enjoy considerable acceptance across the state, especially in Gombe South, where the APC’s popularity is believed to have declined.

To compound matters, some people have questioned the indigeneity of Governor Yahaya and the APC governorship candidate, raising arguments about their roots and connections to the state.

While former governors Abubakar Habu Hashidu, Danjuma Goje and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo are often credited by their supporters with laying the foundations for the state’s development and recording significant achievements during their administrations, the administration of Inuwa Yahaya has attracted criticism from some quarters.

Critics have described the APC administration in the state led by Yahaya as a failure, compared to Goje and Dankwambo’s administrations with some attributing what they consider its inadequate developmental performance to questions surrounding Yahaya’s connection to the state. They argue that his alleged lack of genuine attachment to Gombe has affected his commitment to the state’s development compared with previous administrations. These allegations and arguments, however, remain contested political sentiments.

The emergence of Pantami is therefore seen by some as an alternative, particularly because of his vision of empowering young people and transforming Gombe State into a hub for digital innovation and development in Nigeria. This message appears to be resonating with sections of the electorate.

Although these arguments and political calculations remain largely speculative, the electorate in Gombe State will ultimately have the final say.

As the political pendulum swings among the heavyweight governorship contenders, many observers believe the race could become a keenly contested battle between Gwamna and Pantami.

Whether the political influence of Inuwa Yahaya and the APC’s federal connections will work in Gwamna’s favour, or Pantami’s growing popularity will pose a serious challenge to the ruling party’s hold on Gombe State, only time will tell.