The four gubernatorial aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State have alleged that there is a move to smuggle Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami into the party to contest the primary election.

In a communique issued after an emergency meeting Sunday in Gombe, the aspirants; Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, ⁠Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Hon. Usman Aliyu Garry and Mrs ⁠Monica Kaltho, said the law does not permit a candidate to defect from one political party to another and subsequently contest the same election process after votes have already been cast and counted in his favour in another party’s primaries.

The aspirants said they welcome every well-meaning individual into the PDP, but strongly object to any attempt to involve a person who already contested primaries in another party.

Part of the communique read, “Following the rumoured attempt by an aspirant, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, who participated in the recently concluded governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to defect to the PDP with the sole aim of contesting in our party’s governorship primaries, we deem it necessary to make our position known.”

“We therefore condemn in the strongest terms the alleged attempt to smuggle into the PDP primaries an aspirant who, by law and established democratic principles, is ineligible to participate, having already contested in the APC governorship primaries held on May 21, 2026.

“We, the undersigned aspirants, in respect and deference to the leadership of our party, particularly the Leader of the Party in Gombe state, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, and the entire party structure across the state and the 11 LGAs, revered Elders Committee, unanimously agreed in principle to allow the party leadership to select, from among us, one suitable candidate to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, without any preconditions,” the communique added.

The aspirants called on the leadership of the party to be properly guided and to desist from promoting any action capable of undermining the rule of law or exposing the party to avoidable litigation.

“Such actions, if allowed, may ultimately lead to serious legal challenges from concerned party members and even opposition parties.”

The aspirants added that the electoral law does not permit a candidate to defect from one political party to another, “and subsequently contest the same election process after votes have already been cast and counted in his favour in another party’s primaries.

“While we welcome every well-meaning individual into the PDP, we strongly object to any attempt to involve such a person in the ongoing PDP gubernatorial primaries, which have already reached an advanced stage.”

Efforts to get a response from Pantami proved abortive.

However, his close associate, who craved anonymity, confirmed that Pantami is planning to join the PDP.

“Yes, it is true, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami will join the PDP ahead of the governorship primary election.” (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)

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