A fresh political controversy has erupted in Gombe State following conflicting claims by the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party over the political status of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Isa Pantami.
The dispute emerged shortly after Pantami secured the governorship ticket of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections, a development that has triggered intense debate within the state’s political landscape and raised questions about the legality of his defection from the ruling APC.
While the PDP insists that Pantami lawfully resigned his membership of the APC and has fully integrated into the opposition party, the APC maintains that the former minister remains its member because the process required for his resignation was allegedly not properly followed.
The disagreement has added a new dimension to preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State, where political activities are already gathering momentum following the conclusion of party primaries. Pantami’s emergence as the PDP candidate came after the APC conducted its own primary election, which produced Jamilu Gwamna as its flagbearer for the forthcoming contest.
The development immediately sparked reactions from political stakeholders, with both major parties moving quickly to defend their positions regarding the former minister’s political affiliation. Speaking during a press briefing in Gombe on Tuesday, the APC Publicity Secretary, Moses Kyari, insisted that Pantami’s purported resignation from the party lacked legitimacy because it was never formally received or considered by the appropriate party structures at the ward level.
According to Kyari, the APC ward executive committee responsible for handling such matters had publicly disowned claims that Pantami submitted a resignation letter to the party. “As you may recall, 25 out of the 27 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 told journalists.
“They maintained that the claim was merely a fabrication orchestrated without the knowledge or approval of the ward executive committee.” The APC spokesman argued that party regulations require members wishing to resign to formally communicate their intention through established party channels, beginning from the ward level.
He maintained that until such procedures are followed and acknowledged by party officials, any claim of resignation remains questionable. According to him, the APC remains convinced that Pantami is still a registered member of the party and that the circumstances surrounding his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate raise serious political and legal concerns.
Kyari further stated that the party would continue to defend its position and ensure that all constitutional and procedural requirements relating to political party membership are respected. The PDP, however, has dismissed the APC’s claims, insisting that Pantami followed the necessary steps required to leave the ruling party before joining the opposition.
Party officials argue that once a member communicates an intention to resign and aligns with another political platform, the issue becomes a matter of personal political choice protected under Nigeria’s democratic system. According to PDP leaders in the state, Pantami is now a bona fide member of the party and was validly nominated through the party’s internal processes.
The opposition party also described attempts to question his membership as a political strategy aimed at undermining his candidacy ahead of the governorship election. Political observers say the disagreement could ultimately result in legal challenges if either party decides to seek judicial interpretation of the issues surrounding Pantami’s resignation and subsequent nomination.
Analysts note that disputes over party membership and defections are not uncommon in Nigeria’s political environment, particularly during election cycles when prominent politicians switch allegiances in pursuit of elective offices. Pantami remains one of the most influential political figures in Gombe State.
During his tenure as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, he played a prominent role in implementing several digital transformation initiatives and gained national recognition for policies aimed at expanding Nigeria’s digital economy. His decision to contest for the governorship under the PDP platform has therefore attracted significant public attention and is expected to reshape political calculations across the state.
The controversy is also likely to intensify political rivalry between the APC and PDP as both parties position themselves for what is expected to be a highly competitive governorship race in 2027. Supporters of the former minister have expressed confidence that the dispute will not affect his candidacy, arguing that his popularity and political influence remain intact regardless of the arguments surrounding his party membership.
On the other hand, APC loyalists insist that the matter raises important questions about adherence to party procedures and internal democracy. As the debate continues, political stakeholders across Gombe State are closely monitoring developments, with many expecting further reactions from both parties and possible intervention by electoral authorities or the courts should the disagreement escalate.
For now, Pantami’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate has not only altered the political landscape in Gombe but also sparked a fierce battle over his political identity, setting the stage for what could become one of the most closely watched political contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
