Isa Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has secured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket for Gombe State [1, 2].
The move marks a significant political shift for the former minister, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the opposition. His bid for the 2027 election [1] comes amid accusations from political opponents that he attempted to forcefully take over the state's PDP chapter [3].
Pantami said the high level of poverty and a need for inclusive governance in Gombe motivated his decision to seek the governorship [4, 1]. The transition to the PDP has been met with controversy, as some reports indicate Pantami fully participated in APC governorship primaries before switching parties [3].
Despite previous criticisms of the PDP, Pantami reversed his stance after being awarded the ticket. He said he hailed the PDP's 16-year rule [5].
The announcement of his candidacy was reported between May 24 and May 27 [3, 2, 5]. This political realignment places Pantami as a primary challenger in the upcoming Gombe State contest, shifting the balance of power within the state's party structures.
“Pantami said the high level of poverty and a need for inclusive governance in Gombe motivated his decision”
Pantami's shift from the APC to the PDP represents a strategic realignment of political influence in Gombe State. By leveraging his national profile as a former minister to secure an opposition ticket, he challenges the established party hierarchy, though the accusations of a 'forceful' takeover suggest potential internal instability within the Gombe PDP heading into the 2027 cycle.
