Pantami Submits Gombe Governorship Form Despite APC Consensus Arrangement

ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has submitted his nomination form for the Gombe State governorship race, defying the All Progressives Congress’s consensus arrangement in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Pantami’s form was submitted Thursday at the APC national headquarters in Abuja by a delegation of supporters, according to a statement on his official X account. The move came days after the Gombe APC leadership endorsed businessman Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus governorship candidate at a stakeholders’ meeting presided over by Governor Inuwa Yahaya on Sunday.

The party said the meeting ratified consensus candidates for 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,” a statement from the Gombe Government House said.

The decision drew immediate opposition from the Pantamiyya Movement, a support group loyal to Pantami, which described the process as inconsistent with democratic principles and the APC constitution. The group argued it violated party guidelines and President Bola Tinubu’s stance on internal democracy.

Pantami backed the group in a BBC Hausa interview earlier this week, calling the process a “coronation” rather than genuine consensus. He said the party should hold direct primaries and pledged to support whoever emerges through a transparent process.

In its statement Thursday, Pantami’s camp said the form was purchased by youths whose lives had been impacted by his interventions. It urged supporters to remain resolute ahead of the primary scheduled for May 21, adding, “The contest is now fully underway, and Gombe State is set to witness one of the most keenly contested primaries in recent political history.”

Pantami’s decision sets up a potential internal contest within the Gombe APC as the party approaches its governorship primary.