By Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yahaya Samanja, has called on the party’s leadership to consider the Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association (FA), Hon. Philibus Yakubu Sarma Barwan Waja, as the running mate to the party’s governorship candidate, Hon. Dr. Jamilu Ishaku Gwamna, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Samanja made the appeal in a post shared on his official social media page, urging party leaders, stakeholders, delegates and members of the APC to give sincere consideration to Sarma’s candidature.
He described Sarma, who also serves as the Senior Special Assistant on General Duties to the Gombe State Governor, as a loyal and dedicated party stalwart with a strong record of public service.
According to Samanja, Sarma has distinguished himself through grassroots mobilisation, youth empowerment initiatives and community development efforts, earning the confidence and respect of many across the state.
He added that Sarma’s leadership qualities, integrity and ability to build consensus across political and social divides make him well-suited for the office of deputy governor.
Samanja also argued that selecting Sarma, a prominent son of Waja land, would promote inclusiveness, strengthen party unity and broaden the APC’s support base across Gombe State.
He expressed confidence that a joint ticket comprising Dr. Jamilu Ishaku Gwamna and Philibus Yakubu Sarma would provide the APC with a strong platform capable of inspiring confidence among party members and the electorate in the 2027 governorship election.
The APC chieftain therefore urged the party’s leadership and other key decision-makers to consider the proposal in the interest of fairness, competence, unity and the continued progress of both the party and Gombe State.
