The internal crisis engulfing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has escalated sharply, with two opposing factions issuing separate Certificates of Return to different governorship aspirants—deepening the party’s fracture just months ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
In a development that has confounded political observers, Professor Isa Ali Pantami was formally presented with his certificate by the faction loyal to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike. However, before the pronouncement could gain traction, a rival wing of the party—reportedly backed by the Turaki-led camp and associates of former President Goodluck Jonathan—swiftly countered by bestowing its own certificate upon Hon. Ahmed Yayari, recognising him equally as the party’s standard-bearer.
This unprecedented duplication of mandates has thrust the opposition party into profound disarray, leaving stakeholders grappling with fundamental questions over legitimacy, factional authority, and the veracity of the party’s internal decision-making processes.
The crisis raises critical uncertainties: Who genuinely holds the PDP mandate for the Gombe governorship race? Which faction commands constitutional legitimacy? And, most pertinently, can a party so visibly fractured present a cohesive and credible alternative to the electorate?
Political analysts contend that the deepening schism could severely undermine the PDP’s electoral viability in the state. With voters demanding stability, transparent governance, and purposeful leadership, the party’s internal bickering risks alienating its core base while ceding ground to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As the political drama continues to unfold, the people of Gombe State remain watchful, questioning how a party with two claimants to a single ticket intends to convince the public that it is fit to govern. One party, two candidates, two certificates—and a growing list of unresolved questions.
