Residents from across Gombe Central and its environs thronged the residence of former Gombe State Governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, on Saturday, amid speculation that he was set to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Thousands of supporters gathered at the Gombe residence of the fourth-term senator to reaffirm their loyalty and seek direction on their next political move ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the mammoth crowd, Senator Goje, a founding member of the APC, reaffirmed his membership of the party and pledged to continue working for its success.

“I have not defected to any political party. As a founding member of the APC, I remain a member of the party. Given my years of service and the positions I have held in the country, it would be inappropriate for me, at this stage of my life, to decamp to another party simply to contest for the Senate. However, it would have been a different ball game if I were contesting for a higher position.

“Therefore, I am urging all my supporters across Gombe and beyond to cooperate with our leaders and remain loyal to the party. This is our house. We built it, and we will continue to work for its success,” he said.

Reflecting on his almost 45 years in active politics, Goje said he had contested elections eight times, from the Second Republic to date, and thanked Almighty Allah for granting him victory in all of them.

“Allah SWT has seen me through in politics and beyond. I have held many positions in this country, and not many people have had the kind of privilege I have had. During these over four decades, I was elected a member of a State House of Assembly and served as a two-term governor. I also won election to the Senate five times, the first being during the Abacha era. I served as a minister between 1999 and 2001. Alhamdulillah,” he said.

According to him, he returned to contest the 2023 Senate election after yielding to pressure from his supporters, having initially announced his retirement from active politics in 2019.

“In 2019, I told my people at Pantami Stadium that I would not contest any political position again. But they prevailed on me to contest for the Senate again. They bought the form for me and told me not to come for the campaign because they would campaign for me.

“I won even when I did not come out to campaign during the electioneering period. I remain grateful to Allah and my people for their loyalty and for believing in me,” he said.

Goje also assured his supporters that his empowerment programmes would continue regardless of his political status.

“I want to assure you that my empowerment programmes will continue whether I am in the Senate or not,” he said. (The Nation)