Leader of the Gombe State Coalition Working Group (GSCWG) and chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Muhammad Jibrin Barde, popularly known as Dan-Barde, has expressed confidence that dislodging the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections will be a straightforward task.
Speaking during a meeting with party stakeholders in Gombe, Dan-Barde said the upcoming election is not about political affiliations or individual ambitions, but a united effort to liberate the state from what he described as years of hardship and misrule under 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,” he declared.
Reflecting on his political journey, Dan-Barde noted his role in reshaping Gombe’s political landscape over the past two election cycles.
“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 figures, political stakeholders, and citizens to unite under a common purpose to reclaim the state and install a government rooted in accountability and people-centered governance.
“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.”
Dan-Barde also addressed the recent unveiling of a coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe. He dismissed the group as a gathering of defectors rather than a true opposition alliance.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the GSCWG is spearheading a broader, more inclusive alliance involving over ten political parties.
“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,” he disclosed.
He reiterated that the coalition is united in its resolve to present a viable alternative to the APC in the 2027 elections, not only in Gombe but across the country.
