Gombe – Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, a renowned Nigerian cleric cum politician, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary race in Gombe State, citing alleged violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and a lack of transparency in the party’s electoral process.

The decision was communicated in a statement issued by the Pantamiyya Movement and endorsed by Barrister Ibrahim M. Attahir.

The former minister of communications and digital economy said his decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders and growing concerns over the credibility of the APC’s direct primary elections scheduled for May 21, 2026.

Pantami accused the party leadership in Gombe State of failing to provide critical information required for a transparent and lawful electoral process.

According to the statement, repeated requests by his legal representatives for details regarding accreditation procedures, voting processes, collation centres, and observer arrangements were ignored by relevant party organs.

The statement argued that the alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and APC guidelines undermined confidence in the process.

“In a democracy, the law must guide the process. Non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the party guidelines renders the exercise unsafe and illegitimate,” the statement read.

Pantami’s camp also referenced the APC National Assembly direct primaries conducted on May 16 and May 18, 2026, alleging that no actual voting took place in parts of the state despite the announcement of results.

The movement claimed that aspirants were not informed about venues, procedures, or accreditation arrangements for agents and observers.

According to the statement, Pantami had fully complied with the party’s requirements and guidelines throughout the process. It was noted that he was the only APC governorship aspirant represented at a Peace Accord meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Force in Gombe State on May 14, 2026, where his representative reportedly signed the accord.

The former minister also expressed appreciation to supporters, particularly youth and women groups, who contributed funds toward the purchase of his expression of interest and nomination forms through crowdfunding initiatives. Contributions reportedly ranged from ₦5,000 to ₦4 million.

The statement urged supporters of the Pantamiyya Movement to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, stressing that democracy must be anchored on the rule of law, peace, and security.

Pantami further indicated that the movement would announce its next political steps and future direction in due course, while reaffirming its commitment to what it described as the pursuit of good governance and lawful resistance against injustice in Gombe State and across Nigeria.

The development adds to growing tensions within the APC ahead of the party’s governorship primaries in several states, amid broader concerns over internal party democracy and the conduct of direct primary elections.