A former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, on Saturday warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the credibility of its governorship primaries in Gombe State would determine not only the party’s internal strength but also public confidence in democracy.
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Pantami, who has been at the centre of opposition to the reported consensus arrangement in Gombe, said transparent, fair and independent primaries were crucial if the APC hoped to preserve its legitimacy.
He spoke with journalists after undergoing screening at the APC governorship aspirants’ exercise held at the Kaduna State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
Pantami’s warning comes amid lingering controversy over the endorsement of Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna as a consensus candidate in Gombe, an arrangement he had earlier dismissed as a ‘charade’ while vowing to resist it in an ‘unprecedented’ manner.
At the Abuja screening, Pantami, however said the national leadership’s decision to screen all aspirants suggested that the party still had an opportunity to demonstrate internal justice.
“Since we were invited for screening, it is an indication that the party at the national level has given each and every Nigerian a fair chance,” he said.
He stressed that the survival of APC as a political platform would depend largely on whether its internal processes were seen as credible by members and the public.
He added that internal democracy and justice are very important to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
According to him, direct primaries could strengthen the party only if they are conducted transparently and free from manipulation.
“Direct primaries must be transparent, fair, and independent. Anyone with bias should not be in charge of it,” Pantami added.
The former minister also described the screening exercise as encouraging and praised the committee for professionalism.
“Very transparent, very objective, very friendly, and it is really encouraging so far,” he said.
He also argued that his governorship ambition was based on measurable performance, not campaign rhetoric, pointing to his years in office as evidence.
“I have my scorecard. This is not the first time I’m going into public office,” he said.
He added that independent assessments by KPMG, the FCDO and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ranked him as the ‘top-performing’ cabinet member in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, between 2019 and 2023.
Meanwhile, the immediate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Bauchi governorship aspirant, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, described his own screening as smooth, saying his longstanding involvement in the APC and its legacy parties made the process straightforward.
Tuggar also expressed doubts over consensus in Bauchi, saying the growing number of aspirants made such an outcome unlikely while urging the party to prioritise credible and committed grassroots politicians.
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