Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has faced heavy criticism following allegations that he is attempting to forcefully seize control of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Gombe State.

This political development has sparked widespread outrage among core PDP stakeholders, who view the move as an opportunistic post-primary maneuver. The anger stems from the fact that Pantami had fully engaged in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governance structures and political processes leading up to the state’s primary elections.

According to reports and party insiders, Pantami’s sudden encroachment into PDP affairs is considered a major breach of political ethics. Stakeholders expressed deep frustration that an individual who openly identified with, promoted, and vied for political relevance under the banner of the ruling APC would turn around to hijack the opposition party’s machinery.

Critics within the Gombe PDP argue that allowing an outsider—especially one with deep, recent ties to the APC leadership—to take over the party’s reins undermines the sacrifices of dedicated members who remained loyal and sustained the opposition structure through challenging political periods.

The move has triggered an internal resistance, with various factional leaders and grassroots mobilizers within the state PDP vowing to protect the party from external takeover. Opponents of the suspected hijack argue that political parties must be driven by consistent ideologies and loyalty rather than serving as alternative platforms for politicians who lose out or withdraw from their original parties.

They warned that allowing such a forceful takeover would not only demoralize genuine party faithful but also compromise the PDP’s institutional integrity ahead of upcoming general elections. Stakeholders are calling on the national leadership of the PDP to intervene swiftly, freeze any unauthorized changes to the state executive structure, and safeguard the party from being weaponized by external political interests looking for a fallback option.