Despite the party’s consensus agreement in Gombe State prior to the 2027 governorship election, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami has formally submitted his governorship nomination form to the All Progressives Congress (APC) national headquarters in Abuja.
Days after the Gombe APC leadership named businessman and politician Jamilu Gwamna as the party’s consensus candidate for governor, Pantami made his decision.
Following an expanded stakeholders’ meeting led by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who is recognised as the state’s party leader, the consensus decision was made public on Sunday.
The party said in a statement released by Ismaila Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House, that the meeting approved consensus candidates for a number of elective positions throughout the state, such as the governorship, senatorial, house of representatives, and state assembly seats.
“The stakeholders unanimously endorsed Alhaji Jamilu Gwamna as the consensus governorship candidate of the party for the 2027 election,” the statement reads.
However, the Pantamiyya Movement, a Pantami-loyal support group, opposed the development, rejecting the consensus arrangement and claiming it violated the party’s constitution and democratic ideals.
The group claimed that the procedure went against both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s stance on internal party democracy and the directives of the APC national leadership.
Earlier this week, Pantami publicly supported the stance of his supporters and pledged to confront what he described as injustice within the party in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service.
According to Pantami, the Gombe party’s procedure could not be considered a true consensus agreement under the Electoral Act.
He declared, “What happened is coronation, not consensus.”
He insisted that a transparent primary election process be used to test the popularity of each candidate.
“The party should hold direct primaries in accordance with democratic principles. “I will fully support whoever comes out of a transparent process,” Pantami declared.
Pantami’s camp revealed on Thursday that his nomination form had been formally submitted to the APC national secretariat in Abuja, which was a novel development.
According to a statement posted on the former minister’s official X account, a group of supporters filled out the form on his behalf in compliance with the party’s requirements for candidates running for the governorship primary.
Members of the delegation presented the documents to APC national officials, including Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, according to photos that accompanied the statement.
“Professor Isa Ali Pantami, CON, PhD, has formally submitted his governorship nomination form for Gombe State, purchased for him by youths whose lives have been positively impacted by his support and interventions,” the statement stated.
“Today, Thursday, a delegation representing some of the youths formally submitted the nomination form in fulfilment of the requirements set by the APC for aspirants contesting the Gombe State governorship primary election scheduled for this month’s 21st, where the party’s candidate will emerge,” the statement continued.
In advance of the primary election, the support group urged Pantami’s supporters throughout the state to maintain their resolve and readiness.
The statement went on, “The contest is now fully underway, and Gombe State is set to witness one of the most fiercely contested primaries in recent political history.”
“There won’t be any surrender or retreat.”
As the APC approaches its primary election for governor of Gombe State, Pantami’s decision to pursue his ambition in spite of the consensus arrangement raises the possibility of an internal conflict within the party.
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