Pantami defects to PDP, secures Gombe governorship ticket
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Aliyu Ibrahim Pantami, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and secured the party’s governorship ticket for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
Pantami emerged as the PDP candidate through a voice affirmation exercise conducted during the party’s governorship primary held on Tuesday in Gombe.
Chairman of the PDP electoral panel, Gregory Yenlong, announced the outcome of the exercise, revealing that Pantami garnered 16,781 votes in Gombe North, 12,752 votes in Gombe Central, and 23,422 votes in Gombe South.
According to Yenlong, the former minister secured a total of 52,955 votes across the three senatorial districts.
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“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 declared.
Following the announcement, Sambo Sa’adu moved a motion for Pantami’s adoption as the party’s governorship candidate, while Bulus Maikori seconded the motion.
Addressing party members after the primary, Pantami said his decision to contest was driven by a desire to serve the people of Gombe State. He promised to provide leadership anchored on fairness and justice if elected governor in 2027.
Pantami is expected to face Jamilu Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election.
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Before his defection, Pantami had openly criticised the APC’s process that produced Gwamna as the party’s consensus candidate. He had earlier called for direct primaries but later withdrew from the APC governorship race, citing concerns over transparency in the process.
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