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By Oscar Okhifo
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Pantami’s defection followed his withdrawal from the APC governorship primary in Gombe State, which he reportedly rejected over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.
The development has triggered sharp divisions within the PDP in the state, with some governorship aspirants rejecting what they described as his “imposition” as the party’s candidate.
“This is not what internal democracy stands for. You cannot participate in another party’s primary and still be parachuted into our ticket. It is unacceptable,” one of the aggrieved aspirants said.
Another aspirant warned that the development could destabilise the party ahead of the polls. “If this is allowed to stand, it will create serious cracks within the PDP in Gombe. Many loyal members will feel sidelined,” he said.
The aspirants maintained that Pantami’s participation in the APC governorship primary should automatically disqualify him from contesting another party’s ticket within the same electoral cycle, insisting that such a move violates the spirit of party discipline and internal democracy.
At an emergency meeting in Gombe, they accused some party leaders of attempting to impose the former minister on the party structure, warning that the decision could deepen internal fractures at a critical political period.
Pantami, an Islamic scholar and former minister under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, remains one of the most influential political figures in Gombe State.
Political analysts say his entry into the PDP has significantly altered the state’s political calculations ahead of the 2027 governorship election, potentially reshaping alliances and voter dynamics.