The All Politicians Congress (APC) has reiterated that the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Pantami, remains a member of the party.
According to the Gombe State chapter of the APC, due process was not followed regarding his purported resignation.
The statement follows Pantami’s recent emergence as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State after the APC primary, which produced Jamilu Gwamna.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Gombe, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Moses Kyari, said the APC executive committee in Pantami’s Ward had earlier clarified that it neither received nor deliberated on any resignation letter allegedly submitted by the former minister.
Kyari added that under the provisions of the APC Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the Electoral Act, Pantami remains an APC member until the appropriate procedures are duly completed and verified.
“As you may recall, twenty-five out of the twenty-seven members of the Ward Executive Committee publicly stated that they neither saw nor deliberated on any resignation letter purportedly submitted by Professor Ali Isa Pantami.
“They maintained that the claim was merely a fabrication orchestrated without the knowledge or approval of the Ward Executive Committee”, he said.
“Despite repeated requests, members of the Ward Executive Committee have not been provided with a copy of the said letter,” Kyari stated.
“It is therefore our position that Professor Ali Isa Pantami remains a member of the APC until all due processes are properly followed and verified,” he said.
The APC spokesperson also dismissed claims allegedly made by Pantami during a televised interview on TVC that his defection to the PDP and his governorship ambition had the blessing of President Bola Tinubu.
“We categorically reject this assertion. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a committed leader of the APC and has consistently demonstrated loyalty to the party.
“It is difficult to believe that the President would endorse activities that are contrary to the interests and unity of the APC”, he said.
“The governor has strengthened the party’s presence across the state, with overwhelming representation at the National Assembly, State House of Assembly and local government levels,” he said.
“Given these achievements and the continued growth of the APC in Gombe State, we find no basis for the claims being circulated regarding any endorsement of Professor Pantami’s political ambitions outside the party,” he added.
“We therefore call on the national leadership of the APC and the Presidency to publicly clarify and dispel these claims in order to prevent misinformation and avoid misleading the people,” Kyari said.
