Pantami Submits Gombe Governorship Nomination Form Despite APC Consensus

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has submitted his nomination form for the Gombe State governorship race at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

Pantami submitted the form even though the APC in Gombe had already announced Jamilu Gwamna as its preferred flag bearer for the 2027 governorship election.

The decision was made during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting led by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who also serves as the party leader in the state.

At the meeting, party leaders also endorsed consensus candidates for senatorial seats, House of Representatives positions, and state assembly constituencies across the state.

Despite this, a support group backing Pantami, known as the Pantamiyya Movement, rejected the arrangement, arguing that the decision goes against the APC constitution, national party guidelines, and the position of President Bola Tinubu.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Pantami supported his group’s position, saying he would challenge what he described as unjust treatment.

He also insisted that the process should have followed direct primary elections, which he believes are more democratic, adding that he would accept any candidate chosen through a transparent process.

In a post shared on X, Pantami confirmed that his supporters submitted his nomination form at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

Photos from the event showed his representatives handing the form to party officials, including APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka.

The statement claimed that the nomination form was purchased by young supporters who claimed they have benefited from Pantami’s past initiatives and support.

“Professor Isa Ali Pantami, CON, PhD, has officially submitted his governorship nomination form for Gombe State, purchased for him by youths whose lives have been positively impacted through his support and interventions,” the statement reads.

“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 the 21st of this month, where the party’s candidate will emerge.”

The group called on Pantami’s supporters to remain prepared and focused, adding that “the contest is now fully underway, and Gombe State is set to witness one of the most keenly contested primaries in recent political history. There will be no retreat and no surrender”.

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