AfriPulse
Supporters of former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, under the aegis of the Pantamiyya Movement, have rejected the emergence of Jamilu Gwamna as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
The group described the development as an injustice, insisting that there could be no valid consensus without the involvement and written consent of all cleared aspirants.
Naija News reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the coordinator of the movement, Suleiman Mohammed.
Mohammed said the reported emergence of Gwamna as the party’s consensus candidate did not follow the provisions of the law or the directive of the APC national leadership.
He also claimed that the process was contrary to the instruction of President Bola Tinubu on internal democracy in the ruling party.
According to him, aspirants who had obtained or completed their expression of interest and nomination forms ought to have been properly carried along before any consensus arrangement could be valid.
He said the total disregard for the provisions of the law could not be ignored.
The Pantamiyya Movement said the process that produced Gwamna looked more like a coronation than a valid consensus arrangement.
Mohammed said, “While Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, CON was in Abuja today evening, we heard about the emergence of a coronation which is called a ‘consensus’ for all the elective positions in Gombe State.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The Nigeria Electoral Act, 2026, outlines the modes of nomination in Section 84 (2).
“Political parties are restricted to only two methods for selecting candidates, in which coronation is not among them. The two methods are:
“Consensus: A candidate may emerge if all cleared aspirants provide written consent to step down. If even one aspirant refuses, the party must revert to a direct primary.
“Direct Primaries: Every registered party member has the right to vote directly for their preferred aspirant.”
Mohammed urged members of the Pantamiyya Movement and supporters of Pantami to remain calm and law-abiding while the matter is being addressed.
He said the group would continue to insist on fairness, justice and compliance with the Electoral Act and the APC constitution.
The movement maintained that no aspirant should be imposed on party members under the guise of consensus.
Source: Naijanews.com | Read the Full Story…
