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By: Our Correspondent
The battle for the 2027 Gombe State governorship has taken a dramatic turn as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, has reportedly petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), demanding a full-scale investigation into what he describes as a coordinated cyber campaign allegedly designed to destroy his reputation through fake news and online defamation.
Sources with knowledge of the petition disclosed that Gwamna is seeking the intervention of the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) as well as INTERPOL, following intelligence indicating that some of those allegedly behind the online attacks may be operating from outside Nigeria.
According to the sources, the petition centres on a wave of social media posts claiming that the APC governorship hopeful had been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Gwamna reportedly dismissed the claims as false, malicious and politically motivated.
Insiders said the petition describes the publications as a carefully orchestrated disinformation campaign aimed at misleading the public, damaging his credibility and eroding the political momentum he has built across Gombe State ahead of the 2027 polls.
The APC candidate is said to have urged investigators to obtain subscriber information, IP addresses and other digital footprints from Meta Platforms and other service providers to identify those allegedly responsible for creating, funding and coordinating the publications.
The petition reportedly seeks the prosecution of all persons found culpable under relevant cybercrime and criminal laws, while also requesting that the disputed content be removed from online platforms.
The development has injected fresh intrigue into Gombe’s evolving political landscape, where early manoeuvring for the 2027 governorship contest has already intensified.
Political observers say the petition reflects the growing influence—and dangers—of digital platforms in modern electioneering, where misinformation and coordinated online campaigns increasingly shape public discourse.
Analysts argue that as political competition gathers momentum, candidates should be judged on their ideas, programmes and leadership credentials rather than unverified allegations circulated through social media.
Supporters of Gwamna insist the legal action will expose those allegedly behind what they describe as an organised smear campaign and reaffirm their confidence that the people of Gombe State will ultimately decide the election based on competence, integrity and a clear vision for development.
The petition is expected to test the investigative capacity of Nigeria’s cybercrime authorities, particularly if requests for international cooperation become necessary to trace digital activities beyond the country’s borders.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had publicly confirmed receipt of the petition or commented on the allegations contained in it.
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