The Gombe State Chapter of the All Politicians Congress, APC, has insisted that the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami, remains a member of the party.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Gombe, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Moses Kyari, said due process was not followed regarding Pantami’s purported resignation.

This came after 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.

Kyari stated that 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.

According to him, 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. Despite repeated requests, members of the Ward Executive Committee have not been provided with a copy of the said letter.

“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,” Kyari said.

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has condemned a court ruling which ordered the deregistration of some political parties, describing the development as unconstitutional, undemocratic and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Adebayo, in a post on his X handle, said there was no constitutional, legal or moral justification for alternative political platforms to be suppressed through government action backed by judicial orders.

According to him, the development is particularly troubling as it comes barely days after the nation marked Democracy Day with celebrations, national honors and renewed commitments to democratic values.

He noted that although his party is not among those reportedly affected, remaining silent in the face of injustice would amount to abandoning democratic principles.

The ADP chieftain called on Nigerians and all defenders of democracy to stand in solidarity with the affected parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Action Alliance, AA, Action People’s Party, APP, Accord Party, AP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.

Adebayo argued that Nigeria’s vast social, cultural, religious, economic and ideological diversity require a broad range of political platforms through which citizens can freely pursue their political aspirations.

He pledged support to the affected parties in their quest for justice and restoration through lawful means, stressing that democratic participation should never be restricted.

The SDP chieftain also advocated constitutional reforms to remove the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register or deregister political parties, limiting the commission’s role to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

He proposed a system where political associations are free to field candidates, subject to statutory deposits, which parties failing to secure a minimum percentage of votes would forfeit.

Adebayo warned against policies capable of raising political tension in the country, urging leaders to focus on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting national development instead.

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court, in a ruling on Monday, had ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Accord Party, and others, and stop them from participating in the 2027 general election.

The Action Alliance, AA, has faulted the Abuja Federal High Court’s decision that deregistered the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties, describing the ruling as a threat to the 2027 elections.

AA National Chairman, Kenneth Udeze, expressed concerns that such an action might weaken Nigeria’s democratic system and disrupt efforts to organize for the 2027 elections.

In a statement he issued on Tuesday, Udeze raised concerns that political parties are already working to gather support and prepare for the upcoming election period.

“Democracy thrives on diversity of ideas and platforms. Nigerians deserve broader opportunities to express their political aspirations, not a shrinking democratic space,” he said.

Udeze noted that while the party respects the courts and the law, the decision brings up important concerns over inclusive democracy and free and fair elections.

The AA chairman also noted that the development is especially concerning because the Court of Appeal had reportedly paused the legal process related  to the suit.

He said, “Nigerians should have more chances to share their political hopes, not fewer opportunities in a democracy.”

The party cautioned that ceasing the registration of political parties before a general election could lead to the disenfranchisement of members, disruption of years of political organization, and potentially harmful tensions within the government.

According to the party, issues relating to following rules and election laws should be handled through discussion, changes and proper procedures, instead of removing someone’s registration during an ongoing election.

The party emphasized that building stronger democratic institutions should come first, rather than taking steps that might seem like they are excluding people.

“A healthy democracy cannot be built on exclusion,” the statement said.