Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Gombe State, alleging violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and a lack of transparency in the conduct of the exercise.
Pantami announced his withdrawal on Tuesday through a statement issued by Barrister Ibrahim M. Attahir on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement.
According to the statement, the former minister decided to pull out of the governorship race scheduled for May 21, 2026, after what he described as persistent failures by the party to provide critical information required for a credible and lawful primary election.
The statement noted that Pantami had accepted calls from various stakeholders, including youth, women and community leaders, to contest for the governorship position and had fully complied with the APC’s guidelines and procedures throughout the process.
It further claimed that Pantami was the only governorship aspirant who sent a representative to a peace accord meeting organised by the in Gombe on May 14, where his representative reportedly signed the agreement on behalf of his campaign.
Despite this, Pantami alleged that several letters sent through his legal representatives to APC leadership seeking clarification on the conduct of the direct primary election were neither acknowledged nor responded to.
He argued that the party’s failure to provide essential information, including accreditation procedures, voting guidelines, collation processes and designated centres for agents and observers, undermined the credibility of the planned exercise.
The statement also referenced the APC National Assembly direct primaries conducted in Gombe State on May 16 and 18, alleging that party members at the grassroots level were excluded from the process.
Pantami maintained that compliance with the Electoral Act and party guidelines was essential for any democratic exercise, warning that failure to adhere to the rules could compromise the legitimacy of the election.
“After extensive consultations with stakeholders and careful reflection on recent developments, Prof. Pantami has taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the APC governorship primary election under protest,” the statement said.
The former minister further alleged that results were announced during the National Assembly primaries despite claims by some aspirants that key information regarding venues, procedures and accreditation of agents and observers had not been made available.
He also expressed disappointment that directives by President on the need for free, fair and credible direct primaries were not implemented in the state.
Pantami thanked supporters who contributed funds through crowdfunding to purchase his expression of interest and nomination forms, saying donations ranged from N5,000 to N4 million. He also appreciated youth groups, women, campaign coordinators, party supporters and members of his campaign team for their commitment throughout the process.
While urging his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, Pantami said democracy must be anchored on the rule of law, peace and security.
He added that the Pantamiyya Movement would announce its next political steps in due course, while reaffirming its commitment to good governance and lawful resistance against injustice.
The APC has yet to officially respond to the allegations raised by Pantami regarding the conduct of the governorship primary process in Gombe State.
