Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged as its governorship candidate for Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Pantami secured the PDP ticket through a voice affirmation at a primary election held on Tuesday in Gombe, where he was the sole aspirant. The Chairman of the PDP Electoral Panel, Hon. Gregory Yenlong, announced his emergence as the party's flagbearer.
Speaking after his declaration, Pantami stated that he entered the race to serve the people of Gombe State. He pledged to run an administration based on fairness and justice if elected in 2027. “I contested for the seat to offer service to the people of the state. If elected in 2027, I would govern with fairness and justice,” he said.
Pantami will now contest the governorship election against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jamilu Gwamna. His emergence follows a controversial political transition after he previously opposed the APC’s consensus process in Gombe and withdrew from its primary, citing concerns over transparency.
The development also comes amid objections from some PDP aspirants who raised concerns over attempts to bring Pantami into the party’s governorship race after he left the APC. They argued that electoral rules should not permit such cross-party participation after earlier primaries.
Despite the dispute, PDP stakeholders proceeded with his selection, formally presenting him as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election. The party expects Pantami to leverage his experience and national profile to challenge the incumbent APC in Gombe State.
