- Isa Pantami withdraws from APC governorship primaries in Gombe
- Former minister cites Electoral Act violations and irregularities
- Pantamiyya Movement questions credibility of APC primary process
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Gombe State.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Pantami cited alleged violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and the failure of party officials to create conditions for a transparent and credible primary process as reasons for his withdrawal from the race.
His decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by Barrister Ibrahim M. Attahir on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement.
According to the statement, the former minister reached the decision after wide consultations with stakeholders and a careful review of developments surrounding the APC direct primaries in the state.
The statement maintained that Pantami complied with all party requirements and procedures throughout the process and was the only governorship aspirant represented at the Peace Accord meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Force, Gombe State Command, on May 14, 2026.
It added that his representative was also the only delegate who signed the peace accord during the meeting.
Despite this, the Pantamiyya Movement accused the APC leadership of failing to provide important information relating to the conduct of the direct primaries.
According to the group, several letters written by Pantami’s legal representatives seeking clarification on accreditation procedures, collation centres and other operational details were allegedly ignored by relevant party organs.
The statement argued that the absence of clear guidelines and proper communication raised concerns over the credibility and legitimacy of the process.
“In a democracy, the law must guide the process. Non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the party guidelines renders the exercise unsafe and illegitimate,” the statement read.
Pantami’s withdrawal marks a major development in the APC governorship race in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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