The reported Pantami 2027 governorship bid in Gombe State has received another political endorsement, with elder statesman Alhaji Dahiru Buba Biri, popularly known as Walin Biri, throwing his support behind Professor Isa Ali Pantami.
The endorsement was announced by the Pantamiyya Movement in a statement signed by Professor Suleiman Muhammed on August 12, 2026. According to the statement, Biri and his supporters expressed confidence in Pantami’s capacity to lead Gombe State and praised his record in public service, particularly his time at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.
Biri’s reported endorsement adds another prominent name to the growing political conversation around the 2027 governorship race in Gombe. The former commissioner is described in the statement as a respected elder in the state and one of its longest-serving commissioners, having spent 16 years in government between 2003 and 2019.
Alhaji Dahiru Buba Biri has had a long career in Gombe State politics and public administration. According to the statement, he served as Commissioner for Agriculture and later Commissioner for Local Government between 2003 and 2019, making him one of the longest-serving commissioners in the state’s history.
His political experience also extends beyond his years as a commissioner. Biri was reportedly a gubernatorial aspirant of the then ruling party in the state in 2011 and finished second in the contest.
That history gives his reported support for Pantami added political significance within the context of the 2027 race, particularly as political actors and supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the next governorship election.
The statement said Biri described Pantami as a politician and public servant with strong backgrounds in both Western education and religious knowledge. He also praised Pantami’s previous roles in government, pointing specifically to his leadership of NITDA and his subsequent service as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.
According to the Pantamiyya Movement, Biri spoke positively about Pantami’s performance during his time at the federal level and described his contributions as outstanding and widely appreciated by what he termed well-meaning Nigerians.
Pantami previously served as Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA before becoming Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. The endorsement statement presents those positions as part of the experience Biri believes could be valuable if Pantami pursues the Gombe governorship.
The support is also linked to Pantami’s proposed vision for the state. According to the statement, Biri expressed particular approval of what was described as Pantami’s Gombe State Transformative Agenda, a blueprint focused on human capital development and broader economic and social transformation.
Rather than presenting the endorsement simply as support for a political candidate, the statement framed it around the policies and development priorities associated with Pantami’s proposed agenda for the state.
What Pantami’s Blueprint Promises
The statement said Pantami’s blueprint places significant emphasis on human capital development, with particular attention to skills development and dual education.
It also identifies economic development and the creative industry as areas of focus, alongside special programmes designed for women and young people. According to the document, the proposed agenda is intended to address both economic opportunities and the development of the state’s human resources.
Another component highlighted in the statement is a proposed approach to unity in diversity, inclusivity and social justice. These themes are presented as part of Pantami’s broader vision for Gombe rather than as isolated policy proposals.
The emphasis on skills, education, youth and women also reflects the statement’s portrayal of development as something that should extend beyond physical infrastructure to include opportunities for people to participate more actively in the state’s economy.
Pantami 2027 Campaign Gains Momentum
The endorsement comes as political activity begins to build around the 2027 elections. Although the election remains ahead, potential candidates and political movements are increasingly using public engagements and endorsements to communicate their ambitions and establish networks of support.
For the Pantamiyya Movement, Biri’s reported backing represents another boost for Pantami’s political aspirations. The movement described the former commissioner as an influential elder whose support could contribute to efforts to mobilise political backing across Gombe.
However, an endorsement, by itself, does not determine the outcome of an election. The eventual contest will depend on a range of factors, including party decisions, candidate selection processes, political alliances, voter preferences and the wider campaign environment.
What the latest development does demonstrate is that Pantami’s name is increasingly featuring in discussions about the future political leadership of Gombe State.
A Call for Unity in Gombe
The meeting reportedly ended with an agreement to work towards what the participants described as the emancipation and prosperity of Gombe State.
According to the statement, the commitment was framed around development without discrimination, with unity and inclusion presented as important principles for the state’s future.
That emphasis is also consistent with the themes highlighted in Pantami’s reported transformative agenda, particularly its focus on unity in diversity, inclusivity and social justice.
For supporters of the former minister, the endorsement therefore represents more than an individual declaration of support. It is being presented as part of a broader effort to build political and social backing around a development vision for Gombe.
As the 2027 political cycle approaches, further endorsements, alliances and debates over competing visions for the state are likely to shape the conversation around who should lead Gombe next.
For now, however, the latest development gives the Pantami 2027 movement another prominent supporter, with Dahiru Buba Biri publicly backing Pantami’s reported governorship ambition and expressing confidence in his experience and proposed agenda for Gombe State.
