Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress in Gombe State after former Communications Minister Isa Pantami distanced himself from the emergence of Jamilu Gwamna as a reported consensus governorship candidate, setting the stage for what could become an early internal battle ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Pantami’s rejection is significant not only because of his political weight in Gombe politics, but because it exposes deeper tensions over candidate selection within the ruling party — a recurring issue that has historically triggered factional disputes, defections, and costly legal battles across Nigeria’s political landscape.
Pantami camp questions process
In a statement issued by Professor Suleiman Mohammed on behalf of supporters and members of the Pantamiyya Movement, Pantami’s camp made clear that the former minister neither participated in nor endorsed the process that produced Gwamna and other alleged consensus candidates for elective positions in the state.
According to Mohammed, Pantami was in Abuja during the consultations and was not involved in any meeting that led to the decision.
More critically, the group challenged the legal basis of the process, arguing that a valid consensus arrangement cannot be declared without the active participation and consent of all aspirants who have officially purchased and submitted nomination forms.
“The total disregard for the provisions of the law cannot be ignored by us,” Mohammed said, while urging supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
Legal and political implications
Pantami’s supporters cited Section 84(2) of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, which outlines recognised modes through which political parties nominate candidates, including direct primaries, indirect primaries, or consensus — provided consensus is reached lawfully and transparently.
The core dispute is not merely over who becomes candidate, but whether due process was followed.
That distinction matters.
Nigeria’s courts have repeatedly overturned candidacies where party procedures were found to be flawed. In recent election cycles, internal nomination disputes have weakened major parties more than opposition attacks, with aggrieved factions often moving legal battles from party secretariats to courtrooms.
If Pantami’s camp pursues legal action — as suggested by its statement that lawyers are already reviewing the matter — the controversy could reshape APC’s internal power balance in Gombe.
Why Gombe matters
Gombe State remains one of the APC’s strategic northern strongholds, and succession politics there is closely watched nationally. Any prolonged division within the state chapter could weaken party cohesion ahead of governorship and legislative contests.
Pantami, though better known nationally for his role in Nigeria’s digital economy reforms under President Muhammadu Buhari, retains substantial grassroots influence in Gombe through the Pantamiyya Movement, making his opposition politically consequential.
His camp’s call for direct primaries suggests it is not withdrawing from the race but positioning for a broader contest that tests support openly among party members.
What happens next
For now, it remains unclear whether the APC’s national leadership will intervene, endorse the consensus arrangement, or push for a fresh nomination process.
What is clear is that Gombe’s governorship succession conversation has moved beyond quiet party negotiations into a public contest over legitimacy, legality, and political control.
How the ruling party handles that dispute may determine whether it enters the next electoral cycle united — or fractured from within.
