The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Gombe State, Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as a coordinated campaign of cyberbullying, criminal defamation and fake news allegedly targeting him ahead of the 2027 election.

Highly placed sources familiar with the petition told our correspondent that Gwamna requested an immediate investigation by the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, with INTERPOL involvement, following intelligence suggesting that some of those behind the online attacks may be operating from outside Nigeria.

The petition reportedly names several social media accounts accused of publishing false claims that the APC candidate had been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gwamna has categorically denied the allegations.

According to the document, the publications are part of a carefully coordinated disinformation campaign designed to mislead the public, injure his reputation and manipulate perception at a time when his political profile and grassroots support are growing across Gombe State.

The petition urges the police to obtain subscriber information, IP logs and other digital evidence from Meta Platforms, identify the sponsors and financiers of the campaign, prosecute all those found culpable, and secure the removal of the offending publications.

The development highlights the increasingly desperate tactics being deployed as the Gombe governorship contest gathers momentum.

It was gathered that Dr. Gwamna’s emergence as a leading contender has altered the state’s political landscape, with his growing acceptance across constituencies unsettling sections of the opposition.

“Rather than engage on policy and the future of Gombe, some actors appear to have embraced misinformation and character assassination to slow his momentum,” his aides said.

Supporters of the APC candidate expressed confidence that the petition would expose those behind what they called an “organised smear campaign.” They reaffirmed their belief that voters would judge candidates on competence, integrity and vision.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the EFCC had publicly commented on the petition. (The Nation)

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