By Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami spoke on the APC governorship consensus in Gombe State during a TVC politics on Sunday interview.
Speaking to host Femi Akande, Prof. Pantami said he appeared before the APC screening committee on Saturday, May 9, 2026, arguing that the move itself proves the party has dropped the consensus plan. “If it has been announced, why am I invited for any screening? Technically, legally, it was not a consensus if you ask me, I will say maybe like recommendation”
He further cited Sections 84 (1) (2) and 87 (1) (2) of the Electoral Act, noting: “No consensus can be attained until and unless two of them write their consent, indicate their consent in writing were they withdraw,” he further argued that his statement was not targeted at anyone but their decision “is a contradiction of the constitution.”
He added that no poll was conducted to show Gumau had wider acceptability, ” where is the result of any poll conducted to show that somebody was more acceptable than me?”
Pantami said he attended an April 13 stakeholders’ meeting called by Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya after chartering an aircraft at short notice from Abuja to Gombe to attend an APC meeting because he received late notice and could not travel by road due to some issues. At that meeting, he said, the governor proposed consensus talks and if they failed he opined that the party must conduct a direct primary election to allow party decide who truly command grassroot support.
He stated that he wrote immediately asking that no decision be taken without all three aspirants present. He also expressed that President Bola Tinubu “clearly stated that the wish of the majority must prevail through credible, free and fair election,” He added that the APC national body and Gombe APC had both committed to direct primaries when an aspirant refuses to step down. ” The governor himself clearly stated a week ago that the party and himself are ready to organize direct primaries”
The host asked if Pantami could win the primary election, he respond that “if the primary election is free, fair and credible and if the wish of the majority prevails, undoubtedly we will win the election by God’s grace”
He pointed to “over 241 transformative legacy projects”, he also said that as DG of NITDA and as a minister of communication and Digital Economy, he secured 750 jobs for his people and executed projects in all local government areas in Gombe.
He emphasized that his approach to the people of Gombe is not with “empty blueprint” but a “scorecard”
He describes himself as a party leader, noting that even president Tinubu referred to him as such during the 2023 election campaign, he also explained the significant role he played in the merger of the CPC and ACN parties.
Pantami denied allegations he dissociated from the state party, he explained that Buhari advised him to avoid direct involvement in Gombe politics in order to prevent problems with the state governor. According to him, the instruction from the former president was meant to help maintain peace within the party and avoid unnecessary clashes between federal officials and the state government.
He said he personally gave APC Gombe branch 50 million naira to attend a party convention. His team, also gave the party an additional 45 million to attend another exercise in Abuja. He calls himself one of the “major sponsors of the party” in Gombe.
