Muhammad Jibrin Barde (Dan-Barde), leader of the Gombe State Coalition Working Group (GSCWG) under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Gombe State, has confidently declared that unseating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections will not pose a challenge for his group.
Speaking during an engagement with party stakeholders, Dan-Barde emphasised that the forthcoming election is not just about political parties or individuals, but a collective struggle to rescue the state from what he described as “the hardship and bad governance” brought by the APC administration.
“The 2027 election is not about me or any political party; it is about salvaging Gombe State from the grips of bad leadership that has inflicted hardship on our people,” Dan-Barde stated.
Recalling his political journey and previous electoral battles, Dan-Barde said, “I was at the forefront of defeating the PDP in 2019 and delivering APC in Gombe, and we did it again against APC, the incumbent in 2023, even though the election was rigged at the collation centre. Despite that setback, we proved that the people were with us. I believe we can do it again against a transitioning government.”
He called on opposition members, other stakeholders, political actors, and the general populace to unite and work towards what he called a people-driven movement to restore accountability, development, and inclusive governance in the state.
“All we need is to come together and work to bring in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. That is our mission, and it is achievable,” he added.
Commenting on the recently launched ADC-led coalition in Gombe, Dan-Barde clarified that the initiative does not represent the broader opposition alliance being formed in the state. According to him, the coalition merely comprises individuals who defected from their parties to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“What was launched was not a coalition in the real sense, but rather a group of individuals who left their political parties for the ADC,” Dan-Barde stated, as he went on to explain that his GSCWG is spearheading a more robust and inclusive alliance.
“So far, we have successfully brought together over 10 political parties, including the SDP, ADC, Labour Party, APGA, KOWA Party, AA, and the majority of us that came from the PDP with their structures at the state, local government, and ward levels,” Dan-Barde revealed.
He stressed that the coalition has collectively resolved to forge a common front in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, with the goal of presenting a credible alternative to the current administration in Gombe and the country at large.
