Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The political atmosphere in Gombe State has turned toxic following a explosive allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party that the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is systematically collecting Permanent Voter Cards, bank account details, and biometric information from residents under the pretext of an empowerment programme. The All Progressives Congress has responded with fury, describing the claim as “baseless, unfounded and politically motivated,” and challenging the opposition to present evidence to the appropriate authorities if it has any.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when the Gombe State chapter of the PDP issued a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, raising alarm over what it described as the collection of sensitive personal data as a condition for accessing government palliatives. The PDP said its attention had been drawn to information circulating in the state that the APC government, under Governor Inuwa Yahaya, was collecting account numbers, voter cards, and thumbprints from unsuspecting individuals in the name of disbursing palliatives. The party expressed strong concern over the action, insisting that if the state government genuinely wished to distribute any kind of support, it should be done freely, transparently, and without coercing citizens to surrender sensitive personal information.
The PDP’s statement was not an abstract complaint. It was anchored to a specific event: a massive women’s empowerment programme held on Wednesday afternoon at the Gombe Women’s Unity and Progress Summit, themed “Stronger Voice, United Women, Greater Impact.” The event, which drew no fewer than six thousand women from across the state, was organised by the wife of the APC governorship candidate for 2027, Dr Zaynab Gwamna, who is also the CEO of Family Trust and Care Foundation. The PDP alleged that the PVCs and other biometric details of the beneficiaries were collected as a condition for enjoying the empowerment. The party argued that demanding voters’ cards and biometric information was unnecessary and could amount to profiling citizens. It cited Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy, and urged residents to be cautious about surrendering their personal information to individuals collecting such data.
Dukku, the PDP spokesman, further advised residents against giving out their personal details in exchange for empowerment materials, warning that voters’ cards would be crucial in the forthcoming elections. The party maintained that the programme was being funded with public resources and should therefore be accessible to eligible citizens irrespective of their political affiliation. It called on the state government to disburse any support freely and transparently, without coercing citizens into surrendering sensitive personal information. The allegation landed like a bombshell in a state that has been relatively peaceful compared to some of its North-East neighbours, and it immediately drew the attention of the national media.
The APC’s response was swift and uncompromising. In a statement issued on Thursday, September 10, 2026, by its Gombe State Publicity Secretary, Murtala-Usman Tale, the ruling party described the allegation as a “baseless, unfounded and politically motivated” attempt to “create unnecessary fear, suspicion and distrust” around government empowerment initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and livelihoods of residents. The APC drew a sharp distinction between its role and the statutory responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, stressing that the Permanent Voter Card is issued and administered by INEC, the body responsible for voter registration and the conduct of elections in Nigeria. The party said it was neither the issuing authority nor the statutory custodian of PVCs, and it urged the PDP and members of the public to distinguish between legitimate government programmes and political activities.
The APC also argued that requests for citizens’ information to access empowerment or social intervention programmes should not automatically be interpreted as electoral manipulation. It challenged the PDP to present evidence to the appropriate authorities if it had proof that any government agency, official, or individual was unlawfully collecting, retaining, or misusing citizens’ personal information or PVCs. “If the Gombe State PDP has credible evidence that any government agency, official or individual is unlawfully collecting, retaining or misusing citizens’ personal information or PVCs, it should present such evidence to the appropriate authorities for investigation rather than relying on unsubstantiated allegations,” the statement read.
The ruling party did not stop at defending itself. It went on the offensive, accusing the PDP of resorting to political rhetoric instead of presenting what it described as constructive alternatives and policy solutions to the people. The APC said the people of Gombe State were capable of distinguishing between genuine concerns about their welfare and what it called “politically motivated narratives” aimed at undermining legitimate government programmes. It maintained that the administration of Governor Yahaya remained focused on people-oriented governance, infrastructure development, economic empowerment, and initiatives aimed at improving the standard of living of residents. “No amount of political rhetoric, misinformation or unfounded allegations will distract the administration from its responsibilities and commitment to the people of the state,” the APC declared.
The party called on the PDP to stop spreading what it described as unsubstantiated allegations and allow citizens to participate freely in legitimate government programmes. It added that politics should be issue-based and centred on ideas, policies, and programmes that improve the lives of the people. “Gombe State belongs to all of us, and the welfare, peace and development of its people should always rise above partisan political interests,” the APC said. The APC State Chairman, in a separate reaction to LEADERSHIP, simply dismissed the claim as “fake news,” though he did not provide further details on the alleged collection of voters’ cards, bank account information, and thumbprints.
The political undertones of the dispute are impossible to ignore. The empowerment programme that sparked the controversy was organised by Dr Zaynab Gwamna, the wife of Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election. At the event, Dr Gwamna framed the summit as a defining moment for a conversation on where Gombe women want to be in the future, urging women to help each other, mentor others, and refuse to allow fear to define their future. The State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed, said no fewer than six thousand women were invited for the support and called on them to build bridges and continue to support the ruling party as more benefits from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Inuwa Yahaya are on the way. The PDP’s allegation, therefore, strikes at the heart of the APC’s political mobilisation strategy ahead of the 2027 elections, raising questions about the intersection of empowerment programmes and electoral politics.
For now, the dispute remains a war of words. The PDP has made a serious allegation, and the APC has denied it with equal force. The burden of proof now falls on the PDP to substantiate its claims, as the APC has demanded. If the PDP cannot provide evidence, the allegation will be dismissed as political mischief. If it can, the consequences could be far-reaching, potentially implicating government officials in the unlawful collection of citizens’ personal data. The people of Gombe State, and indeed Nigerians across the country, will be watching closely to see which way the pendulum swings. In a democracy, allegations of this magnitude cannot be left hanging. They must be investigated, and the truth must be established, not for the benefit of any political party, but for the protection of the citizens whose data and votes are at stake.
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