Former Minister Pantami defects to PDP after losing governorship ticket in APC

The immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (Peoples Democratic Party) for Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Pantami secured the party’s ticket through a voice affirmation at a primary election held on Tuesday in Gombe, where he was declared the sole aspirant. The Chairman of the PDP Electoral Panel, Hon. Gregory Yenlong, announced his emergence.

Speaking after his declaration, Pantami said he entered the race to serve the people of the state, pledging to run an administration based on fairness and justice if elected. “I contested for the seat to offer service to people of the state. If elected in 2027, I would govern with fairness and justice.” Pantami will now contest the governorship election against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress), 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 had raised concerns over attempts to bring him into the party’s governorship race after he left the APC, arguing 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.