A former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the credibility of its governorship primary in Gombe State will determine both the party’s internal stability and the confidence of the people in the country’s democratic process.
He said the ruling party needs to hold a fair, independent and transparent primary if it wants to keep the confidence of its members and the voters before the 2027 elections.
Pantami reportedly spoke to journalists on Saturday, May 9, after he was screened at the APC governorship aspirants’ exercise at the Kaduna State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
The ex-minister has been a major voice against the alleged consensus arrangement in Gombe State, following the purported endorsement of Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna as the party’s consensus candidate.
Earlier, Pantami called the arrangement a “charade” and promised to oppose it in “unprecedented” way.
Speaking after the screening, Pantami said the decision by APC national leadership to invite all aspirants for screening showed that the party still had a chance to prove that it was committed to fairness and internal justice.
“We were invited for screening, so it is an indication that the party at the national level has given every Nigerian a fair chance,” he said.
Pantami said internal democracy remains central to the survival of any political party adding that APC must ensure that its processes are not only fair but are seen to be fair by members and the public.
He said that justice among the political parties is critical to the growth and survival of democracy in Nigeria.
If direct primaries are conducted credibly and protected from manipulation, he said, it could strengthen the APC.
Direct primary elections should be transparent, fair and independent. “Anyone that has bias should not be in charge of it,” Pantami added.
The former minister however praised the conduct of the exercise, saying it was processional and encouraging.
He said that the screening committee dealt with the aspirants in a friendly and objective way.
“Very transparent, very objective, very friendly and it is really encouraging so far,” he said.
He said his aspiration to govern Gombe State was not hinged on mere campaign promises but on what he called a record of verifiable performance in public service.
“I’ve got my scorecard,” he said. “This is not the first time I am taking up public office,” he said.
The former minister said that independent assessments by KPMG, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation ranked him as the best performing cabinet member in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2023.
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs and a governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, also described his screening as smooth.
He said his years of experience in the APC and its legacy parties made the process easy.
But he doubted the possibility of consensus arrangement in Bauchi State, saying the number of aspirants in the race made such an option unlikely.
The former minister challenged the APC to give priority and commitment to grassroots politicians, adding that the strength of the party is in the candidates that have defected to the party.
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