Former Communications Minister Urges Supporters to Remain Steadfast as INEC Excludes His Name From Gombe Governorship List
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, has urged his supporters in Gombe State to remain resolute amid uncertainty surrounding his bid for the 2027 governorship election.
Pantami, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said those who worked against his political ambition would eventually be exposed.
His candidacy has faced legal and electoral challenges following a dispute over the PDP governorship primary. After a Federal High Court nullified his initial emergence and ordered a fresh primary, Pantami reportedly secured the party’s ticket again.
However, uncertainty arose following a September 24 Supreme Court judgment concerning the eligibility of candidates whose names were not included in party membership registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the stipulated period.
Although INEC initially listed Pantami as a governorship candidate on August 29, his name was absent from the commission’s revised list released in October.
Pantami’s legal team subsequently gave INEC a three-day ultimatum to reinstate his name, insisting that he had fulfilled the necessary requirements. INEC, however, maintained its position and directed political parties dissatisfied with the exclusion of their candidates to notify the commission by October 24, 2026.
In a video shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, Pantami expressed appreciation to supporters who had prayed for him in mosques and churches amid the controversy.
He said their prayers and encouragement had strengthened him, adding that he was grateful for the support and solidarity shown throughout the challenging period.
The former minister urged his supporters not to become discouraged by criticism or mockery over their decision to seek divine intervention.
He maintained that political setbacks should not weaken their faith, encouraging them to remain patient and committed despite the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy.
Pantami also criticised those who mocked supporters for organising prayers on his behalf, describing such conduct as a failure to appreciate the importance of faith to those involved.
The status of his 2027 governorship bid remains a subject of legal and electoral uncertainty following INEC’s exclusion of his name from its latest list.
