A former Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr Tha’anda Jason Rubainu, and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jerry Damara, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP.

Tha’anda Rubainu, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo between 2011 and 2015, joined Damara to defect, alongside other prominent PDP members from the Gombe South senatorial district.

Speaking when they presented their membership cards to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Mr Damara, a philanthropist from Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state, pledged full support to the Governor Yahaya and APC administration in the state.

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He cited the developmental strides under Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and rural development, as the motivation for their decision to join the APC.

Damara, who is the Managing Director/CEO of Mesotho Group Limited, commended the governor for the tangible projects he has executed in the state, “I am a construction man, and I know what construction means in the development of a state and society. Your Excellency, you have done well to construct Gombe for the benefit of all.”

Damara described their move as a collective decision driven by the APC-led government’s practical leadership and service delivery.

In his response, Governor Yahaya welcomed the defectors, describing their entry into the APC as a significant political gain for both Gombe and the country.

He highlighted his administration’s achievements in road construction, healthcare, education, and civil service reforms as evidence of its performance.

“This is a very big moment for us because it signifies that there is no more opposition in the state. The backbone of the opposition in Gombe has been broken,” he declared.

The governor said the defection added to a series of high-profile exits from the PDP in Gombe in recent months, further strengthening the APC’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.