APC says Tinubu did not endorse Pantami’s switch to the PDP.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has denied claims by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, that President Bola Tinubu supported his move to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC called the allegation “false, misleading and an attempt to justify Pantami’s futile political adventure” outside the party.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Gombe, Moses Kyari, APC Publicity Secretary for the state, said President Tinubu remains a loyal party member who has never encouraged or supported anti‑party activities.

Kyari was responding to Pantami’s suggestion that his decision to leave the APC for the PDP, where he later became the party’s governorship candidate, had received Tinubu’s blessing.

He described the claim as “entirely unfounded and contrary to President Tinubu’s long‑standing commitment to party discipline and loyalty.”

“President Tinubu has no record of engaging in anti‑party activities. To suggest that he authorised or endorsed Pantami’s move to the PDP is completely false,” Kyari said.

He added, “This is yet another lie from the pit of hell. The President has never encouraged any member of the APC to work against the party’s interests, and he certainly did not ask Pantami to seek election under the PDP.”

Kyari said the president would never support actions that could undermine the APC, noting his years of dedication to building and strengthening the party.

He urged the APC national leadership and the presidency to publicly address Pantami’s campaign of misinformation before it gains traction among residents of the state.

He warned that allowing such claims to go unchallenged could create confusion among party members and the electorate.

The APC spokesman also argued that Pantami remained a member of the party under the law, insisting that the party’s state chapter had not received any formal letter of resignation from him.

Kyari said the process allegedly followed by Pantami in leaving the APC fell short of the requirements stipulated in the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He claimed that executives in 25 of the 27 wards across the state were unaware of any resignation letter submitted by Pantami.

“The resignation process was orchestrated through the financial inducement of a ward chairman, rather than through the recognised party structures,” Kyari said.

“The majority of ward executives never saw any resignation letter from Pantami. What we witnessed was a concocted process designed to create the impression that he had properly exited the party,” he added.

He said the APC remains united and focused ahead of future elections, expressing confidence that party members would not be distracted by politically motivated claims.

In a swift response, Abdulkadir Ahmad, PDP Publicity Secretary, issued a statement on Tuesday in Gombe saying Pantami had fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements for party membership after resigning from the APC.

Ahmed said the PDP possessed all relevant documents confirming Pantami’s resignation from the APC, including acknowledgment by his former ward chairman.

“The PDP wishes to categorically state that Professor Pantami is a bona fide member of the Peoples Democratic Party, having duly complied with all the constitutional and legal requirements for membership of our party,” he said.

He urged members of the APC and the electorate to disregard the claims by the PDP regarding Pantami’s political affiliation.

“The chairman of the APC in Pantami Ward had personally acknowledged receipt of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami’s resignation letter on May 19, 2026. Evidence of the acknowledgment has circulated widely on social media,” Ahmed said.

“The APC is repeatedly raising the issue in spite of clear and documented facts,” he added.

“It should be noted that this is the third time the APC has organised a press conference on the same issue,” he said.

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