Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has described the defection of some of his supporters to political opponents as an “indirect job creation and youth empowerment programme.”
Pantami made the remarks during an exclusive interview with DCL Hausa while reacting to his victory in the court-ordered fresh PDP governorship primary and the decision by some TikTok influencers and Kannywood actors who had earlier visited him to subsequently align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Jamilu Ishiyaku Gwamna.
The former minister said he remained grateful to Almighty Allah following his victory in the fresh primary, describing the repetition of the election as a development that ultimately turned out to be a blessing.
Pantami thanked delegates and supporters who participated in the exercise, saying that Muslims and political actors should remain grateful to God regardless of whether circumstances are favourable or difficult.
He said challenges could carry hidden benefits when approached with patience and faith.
On the legal battle that led to the fresh primary, Pantami maintained that once an election is nullified and a fresh election is ordered, the new exercise effectively provides a new legal basis for determining the candidate.
He said the legal process consumed time and resources that could otherwise have been deployed for campaign preparations, but maintained that he would not question what he described as divine decree.
According to him, anyone participating in politics should not be afraid of litigation, particularly when convinced that they are acting within the law.
Pantami said he would continue to appear before the courts whenever required.
‘I Am Not Offended by Their Defection’
Reacting to reports that some TikTok personalities and Kannywood actors who had visited him later moved to the camp of the APC candidate, Pantami said he was not offended by their decision.
He explained that his political outreach was intended to accommodate people from different backgrounds and that some content creators visited him voluntarily, either because of respect for him or because they had listened to his Islamic lectures.
Rather than viewing their subsequent defections as a setback, Pantami said he was pleased because their association with him often resulted in rival political actors offering them financial support.
He claimed that once some influencers take photographs with him or publicly promote his candidacy on social media, political opponents begin approaching them with financial offers.
“In a way, posing for a two-minute photo with me serves as a form of job creation and empowerment,” Pantami said, adding that some influencers were allegedly offered ₦500,000, ₦1 million or more to switch allegiance.
He described the development as an “indirect job creation model,” arguing that young content creators could benefit financially from the attention generated by their association with his political movement.
Pantami said he even encourages some of the influencers to accept such offers.
According to him, when young people tell him that rival political camps have offered them money, he advises them to remain calm and collect the funds.
“When these young people inform me of financial offers from opposition camps, I tell them to stay calm, go and collect the money,” he said.
He added that they could temporarily step away from his political camp and return later if they wished.
‘They Copy What We Do’
Pantami also offered his interpretation of why political opponents allegedly seek to attract people associated with his campaign.
He argued that his political opponents have little to copy from him but regularly attempt to replicate initiatives, strategies and approaches associated with his political activities.
“People naturally look up to bright stars,” he said, attributing his influence to his religious teachings, academic achievements and experience in public service.
He accused his opponents of practising what he described as “copy and paste politics,” claiming that some of his strategies and approaches are subsequently replicated by rival political actors.
Pantami also cited condolence visits and other forms of public engagement as examples of activities he believes opponents have adopted after seeing them associated with his political movement.
Despite the defections, Pantami said he bore no resentment towards those who had moved to other political camps.
He maintained that many people who associate with him do so because they value his religious lectures, intellectual contributions and leadership style.
The PDP candidate said his approach to political engagement would remain open and that people were free to associate with whichever political platform they preferred.
He further maintained that his “indirect job creation and youth empowerment” strategy would continue, arguing that if young content creators benefit financially from political competition after associating with him, he would not consider that a loss.
Pantami’s comments come as political activities intensify in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with rival political camps seeking to consolidate support among youths, social media influencers, political groups and other segments of the electorate.
