2027: Ex-ADC Chairman Danladi Ya'u Dumps Party for PDP, Throws Weight Behind Pantami's Gombe Governorship Bid

Former Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe State, Hon. Danladi Ya'u, has resigned his position and officially defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), throwing his support behind the governorship ambition of Professor Isa Ali Pantami ahead of the 2027 election.

Ya'u, who most recently served as the ADC's State Auditor after previously heading the party as State Chairman in Gombe, made his resignation known through a formal letter addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman in Kwadon, located in Liji, within the Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state.

In the letter, Ya'u stated clearly that his resignation was to take immediate effect, bringing an end to both his role as State Auditor and his overall membership of the party. He explained that he was stepping down not just from his auditor position, but from the ADC entirely, closing the chapter on years of involvement with the party at the state level.

Explaining the motivation behind his decision, Ya'u said his move to the PDP was driven specifically by his desire to support Professor Isa Ali Pantami's bid to become governor of Gombe State in 2027. He described the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy as the candidate best positioned to lead the state going forward, signaling strong confidence in Pantami's capacity for the role.

Despite his departure, Ya'u took time in his resignation letter to express appreciation to the ADC leadership, its State Executive Committee, party members, and supporters, acknowledging the opportunities he was given to serve within the party over the years. He thanked them specifically for the trust reposed in him, as well as for their cooperation and unwavering support throughout the period he held office and served as a party member.

He further reflected on his time within the ADC, describing his years with the party as a valuable and formative experience. According to him, the relationships he built and the lessons he learned during his tenure would remain memorable long after his departure, underscoring that his exit was not marked by acrimony but rather framed as a natural progression driven by political conviction.

Ya'u closed his message on a cordial note, extending well wishes to the ADC and its leadership as they continue their political journey without him, a gesture that suggests his departure, while politically significant, was handled with a measure of goodwill toward his former party.

The defection adds another name to the growing list of political figures realigning ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties across Nigeria continue to see movement among their ranks in the build-up to what is expected to be a keenly contested electoral cycle. Ya'u's decision to back Pantami specifically signals early positioning within Gombe State's political landscape, where the race for governorship is likely to draw significant attention as the PDP works to strengthen its structure ahead of the polls.

With his defection, questions are likely to arise around how his exit will affect the ADC's structure and standing within Gombe State, particularly given his previous leadership role within the party. For the PDP, however, the addition of a seasoned party operative with prior chairmanship experience could offer a boost to its organisational depth in the state as it prepares its governorship campaign machinery for 2027.

As the political undertone across Gombe State begins to shift with defections like this, more realignments are expected in the coming months as parties finalize their structures and candidates ahead of the 2027 election cycle.