One of the gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has rejected the adoption of Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as the consensus candidate of the party in the state.
Daily Trust reports that stakeholders of the party had, after a meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya on Sunday, endorsed Jamilu Gwamna as the APC’s consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
However, a post posted Sunday on Pantami’s verified Facebook page and signed by his aide, Professor Suleiman Mohammed, described the emergence of Jamilu Gwamna as “coronation.”
“While Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami 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.
“Legally, there can be no valid consensus without involving the aspirants who have obtained or completed their expression of interest and nomination forms,” he said.
He, therefore, advised Pantami’s supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, adding that they would not ignore what he described as “the total disregard for the provisions of the law.”
Mohammed quoted the Nigeria Electoral Act, 2026, which he said 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,” he added.
According to him, the action was contrary to the provisions of the law, the directive of the APC, and the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Mohammed further stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We urge our supporters to get ready for direct primaries after addressing major challenges in the APC database in the state. Our legal team is also working on addressing the challenges and observations.”