Pantami defects to PDP, secures Gombe governorship ticket

Isa Pantami, a former minister of communications and digital economy, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.

Pantami secured the PDP ticket through a voice affirmation during the party’s governorship primary held on Tuesday in Gombe.

Chairman of the PDP electoral panel, Gregory Yenlong, announced the outcome of the affirmation exercise at the event.

According to him, Pantami polled 16,781 votes in Gombe North, 12,752 votes in Gombe Central, and 23,422 votes in Gombe South.

The PDP panel chairman stated that the former minister recorded a total of 52,955 votes during the exercise.

“Therefore, by the guidelines of this election, it is my singular honour and privilege, members of the PDP, our elders, Prof. Isa Aliyu Ibrahim Pantami, who is therefore presented to you for affirmation,” he said.

Following the announcement, Sambo Sa’adu moved a motion for the adoption and affirmation of Pantami as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

The motion was seconded by Bulus Maikori.

Speaking after the primary, Pantami said his decision to join the governorship race was driven by a desire to serve the people of Gombe State.

He also pledged to govern the state with fairness and justice if elected in 2027.

Pantami is expected to face Jamilu Gwamna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the governorship election.

Before defecting to the PDP, Pantami had criticised the process that produced Gwamna as the APC consensus candidate.

The former minister had earlier demanded direct primaries but later withdrew from the APC governorship race on the eve of the exercise, citing a lack of transparency in the process.