By Peter Omopo
September 5, 2025
A major political realignment has unfolded in Gombe State as Jerry Damara, a prominent Tangale-Waja politician and business mogul, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Damara, Managing Director of Mesotho Group Limited and Chief Executive of Kugbo International Market, formally presented his APC membership card to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya at the Government House, Gombe, on Thursday.
The defection ceremony drew a high-powered delegation that included three former deputy governors, four local government chairmen, four members of the Gombe State House of Assembly, former federal lawmakers, and other influential stakeholders from the zone.
Explaining his decision, Damara praised Governor Yahaya’s developmental initiatives and inclusive leadership.
“Your Excellency, from today, my loyalty to you and your administration is total. The developmental train you are driving is unstoppable, and I refuse to be left behind,” he said.
He added that after broad consultations with Tangale-Waja political elders and stakeholders, they resolved to put an end to years of political divisions in Gombe South and fully embrace the APC.
Governor Yahaya welcomed Damara’s defection, describing it as “a special and historic moment” for the party.
“This is a major political breakthrough for our party in Gombe South. Jerry Damara is a political heavyweight whose influence will reshape our strength in the zone,” Yahaya stated.
The move comes amid intensifying political shifts in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections. Recently, over 1,000 members from both APC and PDP in Lawanti, Akko LGA, defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). At the same time, opposition parties—including PDP, SDP, ADC, and LP—have formed a coalition under the United Group, led by PDP’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Jibrin Barde, to mount a stronger challenge to the ruling APC.
Observers say Damara’s entry into the APC is not just an individual move but a high-stakes political realignment that could have significant ripple effects in Gombe South and across the state’s broader political landscape.
