A fresh controversy has erupted in Gombe State over the political status of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Pantami, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) laid conflicting claims to his party membership.
The disagreement followed Pantami’s emergence as the governorship candidate of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections, after the APC primary election produced Jamilu Gwamna as its candidate.
The Gombe State chapter of the PDP insisted that Pantami had validly resigned from the APC and was now a bona fide member of the opposition party, while the APC maintained that the former minister remained its member because due process was allegedly not followed in effecting his resignation.
Addressing journalists in Gombe on Tuesday, the APC Publicity Secretary, Moses Kyari, said the party’s Executive Committee in Pantami Ward had earlier clarified that it neither received nor deliberated on any resignation letter purportedly submitted by Pantami.
“As you may recall, twenty-five out of the twenty-seven members of the Ward Executive Committee publicly stated that they neither saw nor deliberated on any resignation letter purportedly submitted by Professor Ali Isa Pantami,” Kyari said.
“They maintained that the claim was merely a fabrication orchestrated without the knowledge or approval of the Ward Executive Committee.”
According to him, the Ward Chairman, Alhaji Bala Galda, disclosed that the alleged resignation letter was received on May 23, 2026, despite being dated May 19, and was delivered by one Abba Pantami.
“Despite repeated requests, members of the Ward Executive Committee have not been provided with a copy of the said letter,” Kyari stated.
He argued that under the provisions of the APC Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and the Electoral Act, Pantami remained an APC member until the prescribed procedures were completed and verified.
“It is therefore our position that Professor Ali Isa Pantami remains a member of the APC until all due processes are properly followed and verified,” he said.
Kyari also dismissed claims allegedly made by Pantami during a televised interview on TVC that his defection to the PDP and governorship ambition had the blessing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We categorically reject this assertion,” he said.
“President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a committed leader of the APC and has consistently demonstrated loyalty to the party. It is difficult to believe that the President would endorse activities that are contrary to the interests and unity of the APC.”
He called on the national leadership of the APC and the Presidency to publicly clarify the issue to prevent misinformation.
“We therefore call on the national leadership of the APC and the Presidency to publicly clarify and dispel these claims in order to prevent misinformation and avoid misleading the people,” Kyari added.
However, in a swift response contained in a press release signed by its State Public Relations Officer, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, the PDP dismissed the APC’s position, insisting that Pantami had fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements for membership of the opposition party.
“We wish to categorically state that Professor Pantami is a bonafide member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having duly complied with all the constitutional and legal requirements for membership of our party,” the PDP said.
The party further stated that it possessed documentary evidence confirming Pantami’s resignation from the APC.
“The PDP possesses all relevant documents confirming his resignation from his former party acknowledged by his then Ward Chairman,” the statement read.
According to the PDP, the chairman of APC in Pantami Ward had personally acknowledged Pantami’s resignation letter on May 19, 2026.
“The Chairman of APC in Pantami Ward has stated that he acknowledged the letter of Pantami’s resignation in person on the 19th of May, 2026, which he posted on the social media platform that went viral recently,” the party added.
The opposition party described the APC’s repeated press briefings on the matter as unnecessary.
“It should be noted that this is the third time the APC has organized a press conference on the same issue, despite the facts being clear and well documented,” the statement said.
The PDP urged the ruling party in the state to focus on preparations for the forthcoming elections rather than what it described as distractions.
“Consequently, we urge the APC in Gombe State to focus on preparing for the forthcoming general election instead of engaging in unnecessary distractions,” it stated.
The party also argued that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act guarantee freedom of association.
“If the APC lacks confidence in its candidate, it should address its internal concerns instead of insisting that Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami must stay in their party. After all, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Law as amended guarantees freedom of association,” the PDP said.
It added that the APC still had the opportunity, within the electoral process, to take decisions regarding its candidature if it believed its candidate could not effectively compete against Pantami.
Reaffirming its stance ahead of the elections, the PDP said it remained committed to issue-based campaigns and providing credible leadership to the people of Gombe State.
“The PDP remains committed to issue-based campaigns and to providing the people of Gombe State with credible leadership, development and good governance,” the statement concluded.