The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has rejected allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the ruling party is behind the alleged production of fake membership cards ahead of the opposition party’s fresh governorship primary.
The PDP is expected to hold the rerun primary on Tuesday, September 29, following a court order that voided its earlier governorship election.
Reacting to the allegation, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Murtala Usman Wuro Tale, said the party had no involvement in the PDP’s membership affairs or its governorship primary.
Tale, in a statement, described the claim that about 20,000 fake membership cards were being produced as unfounded.
He said the APC-led government under Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya was preoccupied with administering the state and implementing its development agenda, rather than interfering in the affairs of the opposition.
He maintained that the responsibility for organising the PDP primary rested solely with the party and its authorised organs.
According to him, the APC would not involve itself in the disagreements within the PDP or take responsibility for the outcome of its internal electoral process.
The APC spokesman urged the PDP to address its internal disputes and ensure that the fresh primary complied with the court order, its own rules and relevant electoral provisions.
He also called on the opposition party to account for the circumstances that led to the legal challenge against its previous primary instead of directing allegations at the APC.
The controversy followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Gombe on September 24, 2026, which nullified the PDP primary that produced Professor Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s governorship candidate.
The court consequently directed the PDP to conduct another primary in line with its guidelines and applicable electoral laws. The PDP subsequently fixed September 29 for the fresh exercise.
Tale said the PDP should take any evidence of alleged fraudulent membership cards or interference with its primary to law enforcement and relevant regulatory agencies.
He said allegations made through the media could not replace verifiable evidence.