Gombe PDP aspirants oppose Pantami’s alleged entry into governorship race
Gombe PDP Aspirants Reject Inclusion of Pantami in Gubernatorial Race
GOMBE, Nigeria — Four aspirants for the governorship nomination of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State have expressed their opposition to any efforts to include former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, in the party’s primary race for the 2027 elections.
The aspirants—Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Hon. Usman Aliyu Garry, and Mrs. Monica Kaltho—released a statement following an emergency meeting held Sunday in Gombe.
In the communiqué, they alleged that there are plans to “smuggle” Pantami into the PDP, despite his participation in the governorship primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 21, 2026. The aspirants contended that the Electoral Act and democratic principles disallow a candidate from switching parties while participating in the same electoral process after securing votes with another party.
“Given the rumored attempt by an aspirant, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, to defect to the PDP with the intent of contesting in our governorship primaries, we find it essential to clarify our position,” the communiqué stated. They vehemently condemned any attempts to allow Pantami’s participation in the PDP primary, warning that such actions could lead to legal disputes.
The aspirants cautioned that moves perceived as undermining the rule of law could trigger litigation from dissatisfied party members and opposition parties.
Furthermore, the communiqué indicated that the four aspirants have unanimously decided to allow the PDP leadership in Gombe to select one of them as the party’s consensus candidate for the upcoming election. This decision reflects their respect for the party leadership, particularly former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who they recognize as the state party leader, as well as the PDP structure across the 11 local government areas and the party’s elders committee.
While affirming that the PDP is open to new members, the aspirants firmly opposed the inclusion of anyone who has previously participated in another party’s primaries. “While we welcome every well-meaning individual into the PDP, we strongly object to any attempts to involve such a person in the ongoing PDP gubernatorial primaries, which have already progressed significantly,” they stated.
