By Smart Emmanuel,
A transport company in northeastern Nigeria has accused the Gombe State Government of political victimisation after receiving a 24-hour notice to vacate a state-owned motor park, while park managers insist the eviction was based on violations of operational regulations.
Gombawa Motors Nigeria Limited was ordered to leave the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Mega Park in Gombe State under a notice dated June 25, signed by the Managing Director of Principal Facilities Management Limited, Mayo Ani.
The notice, seen by AFRICA PRIME NEWS, stated that the decision followed a resolution of the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Mega Park Oversight Committee after what it described as repeated breaches of operational guidelines agreed during the park’s restructuring and realignment exercise in November 2025.
According to the notice, several complaints had been received from other transport operators alleging that Gombawa Motors repeatedly failed to comply with procedures designed to ensure orderly operations within the park.
The document did not specify the particular rules the company was alleged to have violated.
When contacted by reporters, the General Manager of Gombe Line, the state-owned transport company responsible for managing the facility, Dr. Sani Sabo, confirmed that the eviction notice had been issued but declined to elaborate on the allegations.
“They are not above the law,” Sabo said.
However, Gombawa Motors rejected the reasons given for its eviction, describing the action as politically motivated.
In a statement issued on June 26, the company’s Secretary, Muhammad Umar D., alleged that the notice was issued shortly after the company publicly expressed support for Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the governorship candidate of Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State.
“The motive could not be clearer. The expulsion order arrived straight after Gombawa Motors openly expressed solidarity with Professor Isa Ali Pantami,” the statement said.
The company denied breaching any regulations governing the park and argued that supporting a political candidate was a constitutional right protected under Nigerian law.
It also claimed that the 24-hour eviction notice violated its right to a fair hearing and accused the state government of using administrative measures to punish businesses perceived to support political opponents.
According to Gombawa Motors, transport operators were directed during the 2025 restructuring of the park to operate only from designated terminals after satellite parks were closed. The company alleged that the centralisation of operations left private transport firms vulnerable to administrative sanctions.
AFRICA PRIME NEWS has not independently verified the company’s allegations that the eviction was linked to its political position.
As of the time of publication, the Gombe State Government had not issued a formal response to the political allegations beyond the explanation provided by the park management that the company was being sanctioned for breaching operational rules.
The eviction notice was copied to the Gombe Revenue Optimisation Company Limited (GROCOL), the Gombe State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
