Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has formally submitted his governorship nomination form at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja, amid growing controversy over the party’s consensus arrangement in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 election.
Pantami’s decision followed the endorsement of businessman and politician, Jamilu Gwamna, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate after an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
The meeting, according to a statement issued by Ismaila Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House, also ratified consensus candidates for senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly positions.
However, the arrangement sparked resistance from the Pantamiyya Movement, a support group loyal to Pantami, which rejected the process and described it as undemocratic and contrary to the party’s constitution.
Speaking earlier with the BBC Hausa Service, Pantami faulted the consensus process, insisting that aspirants should be allowed to contest through transparent primaries.
“What happened is not consensus but coronation,” he said.
The former minister maintained that direct primaries remained the best democratic option for the party in the state.
“The right thing is for the party to conduct direct primaries in line with democratic principles. Whoever emerges through a transparent process will have my full support,” Pantami stated.
In a fresh development on Thursday, Pantami’s supporters confirmed that his completed nomination form had been officially submitted at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
A statement shared via the former minister’s official X account said the form was submitted by a delegation of youths who purchased it on his behalf.
It stated that the submission was in line with requirements set by the APC for aspirants contesting the party’s governorship primary scheduled for May 21.
Photographs accompanying the statement showed members of the delegation presenting the documents to APC officials, including the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
The statement added that Pantami’s supporters across Gombe State had been urged to remain resolute ahead of what it described as a keenly contested primary election.
Pantami’s decision to continue with his ambition despite the consensus endorsement signals a possible internal showdown within the APC in Gombe State as preparations intensify for the governorship primary.
