Pantami quits Gombe APC governorship race, alleges breach of electoral guidelines

Isa Ali Pantami, Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Gombe State, alleging violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and lack of transparency in the conduct of the exercise.

Pantami announced his withdrawal in a statement issued on Tuesday by Ibrahim Attahir on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement.

The former minister said the decision followed consultations with political associates and supporters after what he described as persistent irregularities surrounding the APC direct primary process in the state.

According to the statement, Pantami joined the race after appeals from party leaders, youths, women groups and other stakeholders who urged him to contest for the governorship seat ahead of the 2027 elections.

The statement maintained that he complied with all party requirements and was the only governorship aspirant represented at the peace accord meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Force in Gombe on May 14, 2026.

It added that his representative was also the only delegate said to have signed the peace accord during the meeting.

However, the Pantamiyya Movement accused the APC leadership in the state of failing to provide key details relating to the conduct of the direct primaries, including accreditation procedures, voting arrangements and collation centres.
The group alleged that several letters written by Pantami’s legal team seeking clarification on the process were neither acknowledged nor answered by party officials.

“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 said.

The movement further claimed that no proper election took place during the recent National Assembly direct primaries conducted in parts of Gombe State, alleging that many aspirants and party members were not informed about voting venues or accreditation procedures before results were announced.

Pantami also alleged that despite repeated calls by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for credible and transparent primaries within the APC, such directives were not reflected in the conduct of the exercise in Gombe State.

The former minister thanked his supporters, especially youths who reportedly contributed funds through crowdfunding to purchase his nomination and expression of interest forms.
According to the statement, donations from supporters ranged from N5,000 to N4 million, with many contributors publicly sharing evidence of payment online.

Pantami also appreciated women groups, campaign coordinators, elders and members of his campaign committee for their support throughout the process.

He urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that democracy must be built on transparency, peace and respect for the rule of law.

The statement added that the Pantamiyya Movement would announce its next political direction in due course.
Pantami’s withdrawal is expected to alter political calculations within the APC in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, given his influence among youths and grassroots supporters.