PDP uploads Pantami’s nomination records on INEC portal

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has uploaded the nomination records and profile of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, portal as its governorship candidate in Gombe State.

The Pantamiyya Movement disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the party completed the upload on July 26 ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The movement said Mr Pantami emerged as the PDP’s unopposed governorship candidate in Gombe on May 26 after other prospective aspirants were allegedly not cleared by the party’s National Working Committee and failed to obtain certificates of clearance.

According to the group, Mr Pantami was affirmed as the party’s candidate in a process monitored by INEC and conducted in compliance with relevant electoral laws and guidelines.

“The Office of the National Organising Secretary of the PDP has conveyed and confirmed to us the details of the process of uploading the profile of Professor Pantami,” the statement said.

“The office also sent the acknowledged copy to our candidate and the party.”

The movement described the completion of the nomination process as a major milestone ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.

It said Mr Pantami, a former director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, and former co-chairman of the African Union’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Policy Council, possessed the experience required to provide what it described as competent and visionary leadership.

The group also credited the former minister with increasing revenue in the digital economy sector by more than 593 per cent while reducing the cost of services.

It further claimed that Mr Pantami executed more than 241 projects and programmes in Gombe State, among other achievements.

The movement said the PDP governorship candidate intended to draw on his experience in education, the digital economy, agriculture, industrialisation, security and youth empowerment to promote sustainable development, create jobs and strengthen inclusive governance in the state.

It added that Mr Pantami would pursue a governance model in which all citizens would be treated equally if elected governor in 2027.

The group commended the PDP leadership in Gombe and the party’s National Working Committee for their roles in the nomination process.

“This is a victory for democracy and a clear signal that Gombe State is set for competent and visionary leadership come 2027,” the statement said.