Gombe APC Crisis Deepens As Billiri Aspirants Back Attajiri, Demand Direct Primary Against Ali Isah

Gombe APC Crisis Deepens as Billiri Aspirants Back Attajiri, Demand Direct Primary Against Ali Isah The political tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has intensified as a group of aspirants from Billiri Local Government Area has openly rejected the party’s consensus arrangement for the Balanga–Billiri Federal Constituency ticket. The group has declared strong support for Hon. Alfred John Attajiri, insisting that only a direct primary election can determine the authentic candidate for the constituency. According to the aspirants, the endorsement of the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Ali Isah, under the party’s consensus arrangement was unacceptable and exclusionary to stakeholders from Billiri. The development, which party insiders have described as part of the widening internal struggle over candidate selection, is coming amid growing resistance to the APC’s consensus strategy in Gombe State. The group maintained that fairness and equity demand that the ticket be subjected to an open contest rather than a closed-door agreement. They argued that Billiri stakeholders must not be sidelined in the zoning and selection process, stressing that their support for Attajiri reflects the collective aspiration of the area. The rejection of the consensus arrangement adds to the broader crisis within the APC in Gombe, where several aspirants across different constituencies have also opposed party-imposed candidates and demanded direct primaries. Hon. Alfred John Attajiri, who has emerged as the rallying point for the dissenting bloc, is expected to challenge the incumbent if the party eventually approves a direct primary election. Party leadership in the state is yet to officially respond to the latest declaration, but internal discussions are ongoing as pressure mounts ahead of the 2027 general elections. he Balanga–Billiri seat remains one of the most closely watched constituencies in Gombe State, with stakeholders warning that unresolved disagreements could deepen divisions within the ruling party.