Gombe 2027: Pantami breaks silence on omission from INEC guber candidate list

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has reacted to the omission of his name from the list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.

Pantami, in a statement issued on his behalf by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe on Saturday, urged his supporters to remain calm, hopeful and steadfast despite the development.

The statement said Pantami emerged as the candidate following a fresh primary election conducted on September 29, 2026, in compliance with an order of the Federal High Court.

The statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to the non-publication of the name of our candidate from the fresh primary election of September 29, 2026, as ordered by the Federal High Court, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), CON, PhD, FCIIS, FBCS, FNCS, in the list released by INEC, and we understand the concerns this has raised among our teeming supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Pantamiyya Movement across Gombe State and beyond.

“We wish to assure all our supporters to remain calm, steadfast and hopeful. This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah.

“We are aware of the people working behind the scenes to frustrate good and responsible leadership in Gombe State, but our legal and liaison teams are already engaging with the relevant organs of the party and INEC to ensure full compliance and rectification within the window provided by law. By the grace of Allah, this matter will be resolved.

“We urge our supporters to continue their mobilisation and remain focused on our collective ideology of service to humanity. The PDP and Pantamiyya Movement remain strong, united and committed to the rescue and emancipation of our people. No distraction will derail our course, in sha Allah.

“May Allah bless Gombe State and may Allah bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”