APC, PDP clash over Pantami’s political status in Gombe ahead of 2027 polls

Nigeria’s two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have engaged in a heated exchange over the political affiliation and candidacy status of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Pantami, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The controversy centers on claims and counterclaims regarding Pantami’s reported emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State for the 2027 election cycle, a development that has triggered sharp political reactions from rival camps.

While PDP stakeholders insist that internal party processes have positioned Pantami as its standard-bearer in the state, APC leaders have dismissed the claim, arguing that his political alignment and candidacy status remain contentious and subject to clarification under electoral and party regulations.

Both parties have continued to trade accusations over legitimacy and political propriety, with each side seeking to shape public perception ahead of what is expected to be a tightly contested gubernatorial race in Gombe.

Pantami, a former federal minister and influential political figure in the North-East, has yet to publicly issue a detailed clarification on the dispute as tensions between the rival parties escalate.

The disagreement adds to early political maneuvering in Gombe State, where realignments and contestations are already beginning to define the emerging 2027 election landscape.