Governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State have rejected reports suggesting that former Communications Minister Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami plans to join the party and contest for the governorship ticket.
In a joint statement, the aspirants warned that allowing Pantami to enter the PDP governorship race after reportedly participating in the primary process of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could create legal complications and internal divisions within the party.
The aspirants who signed the statement include Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Usman Aliyu Garry, and Monica Kaltho. They said they had already agreed to allow PDP leaders to select a consensus candidate from among them in order to preserve unity within the party.
According to the group, electoral laws and democratic principles do not support a situation where a politician participates in one party’s primary process and then seeks to contest under another party during the same election cycle. They urged PDP leaders to avoid actions that could expose the party to legal disputes and political instability.
Speculation about Pantami’s possible move to the PDP began after he withdrew from the APC governorship race in Gombe State. Some of his supporters reportedly encouraged him to seek another platform to continue his political ambition.
However, Pantami has not officially confirmed any plan to defect to the PDP or contest the governorship election under the party.