APC, PDP trade words over Pantami’s political membership status

The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Pantami

A fresh controversy has erupted in Gombe State over the political status of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami, as the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party laid conflicting claims to his party membership. The dispute followed Pantami’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate 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 is now a bona fide member of the opposition party. The APC, however, maintained that the former minister remains 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, 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. “They maintained that the claim was merely a fabrication orchestrated without the knowledge or approval of the ward executive committee,” Kyari said. 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 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 Tinubu. “We categorically reject this assertion. President 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