MURIC Rejects Gombe APC Consensus, Backs Pantami for Governorship
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised the reported consensus arrangement adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State for the emergence of its governorship candidate, describing the exercise as “kangaroo,” undemocratic and contrary to due process.
The Islamic human rights organisation also threw its weight behind the aspiration of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, urging the APC leadership in the state to support his gubernatorial ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC alleged that the consensus process was conducted without the knowledge or participation of Pantami, whom it described as one of the major contenders in the race.
According to the group, any consensus arrangement that excludes critical aspirants violates democratic principles and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“Reports indicate that Gombe State APC organised a lopsided ‘consensus’ arrangement in the absence of, and without the knowledge of, at least one of the major contending candidates, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami,” the statement read.
“This is unfair, parochial, undemocratic and therefore unacceptable. A level playing field must be provided for all interested candidates in the name of fairness, justice and equity. Anything short of this is a kangaroo arrangement and an exercise in futility.”
MURIC demanded the cancellation of the exercise allegedly conducted on Sunday, April 3, 2026, insisting that it failed to comply with democratic norms and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The group argued that consensus candidacy can only be valid where all aspirants voluntarily agree in writing to step down.
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“Arrival at a consensus candidate can only be valid if all cleared aspirants provide written consent to step down. If even one aspirant refuses, the party must revert to a direct primary. There is no evidence that this was done,” the organisation stated.
MURIC further expressed concern that both Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the purported consensus candidate reportedly hail from the same Jekadafari Ward, warning that such an arrangement could trigger political discontent across other parts of the state.
“Secondly, the incumbent governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who is concluding his eight-year tenure, hails from the same Jekadafari Ward where the ‘consensus’ candidate comes from. This is an anomaly,” the statement added.
The group also questioned the loyalty credentials of the preferred aspirant, contrasting it with what it described as Pantami’s “long-time membership” and “unshaken loyalty” to the APC.
“Unlike Professor Pantami who has an indomitable pedigree in the party, the candidate who was picked has been virtually in all political parties in Gombe State. Why pick a perennial ship-jumper?” MURIC queried.
The organisation maintained that excluding Pantami and other aspirants from the process amounted to a violation of their constitutional rights to participate in the political process.
“It is well known that Pantami has the crowd. Even the large followership in the Pantamiya movement alone is enough to score a landslide victory,” the statement said.
“With a professor in the saddle, Gombe State is on the verge of becoming the leading light in the education sector in Northern Nigeria.”
MURIC subsequently appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the matter and ensure that due process and internal democracy prevail within the Gombe APC.
“We call for the cancellation of the Gombe consensus exercise. We demand respect for due process and the rule of law,” Akintola stated.
By PRNigeria
