Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has urged his supporters to remain steadfast in prayers and not be discouraged by criticism amid uncertainty over his participation in the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.
Pantami said those allegedly working to frustrate his political ambition would soon be exposed, adding that no human being could stop what Allah had destined to happen.
The Islamic scholar made the remarks in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, where he expressed appreciation to supporters who had organised prayers in mosques and churches for his political future.
He thanked the people of Gombe State for their continued support, describing their prayers and commitment as a source of encouragement during the challenges surrounding his candidacy.
“I want to begin by expressing my profound gratitude to my fellow good people of Gombe State for their prayers, including the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, and for gathering in mosques and churches to pray for us for days on end,” he said.
The former minister urged his supporters to remain committed and avoid being distracted by critics, describing their mobilisation and steadfastness as commendable.
“You canvassed support, mobilised people, enlightened them and remained steadfast throughout this period. This is commendable, and this is a sign of true piety,” Pantami said.
He also cautioned against ridiculing supporters for seeking divine intervention, saying such criticism should not discourage them from praying.
Pantami said investigations had confirmed allegations that some individuals were working to frustrate his political movement, adding that details of the alleged plans and those behind them would be made public.
“As for those whom you accused of repeatedly frustrating this movement, our investigations have now confirmed that these allegations are true. There is no amount of money or effort that has not been expended in an attempt to scuttle this movement,” he said.
He, however, did not identify the individuals he accused of working against his candidacy in the video.
Background to Pantami’s Candidacy
Pantami’s political future has remained uncertain following a series of legal and electoral developments ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
The former minister, who was previously a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), left the party after it settled for Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as its consensus governorship candidate.
He subsequently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate on May 26, 2026.
However, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, another aspirant who contested the PDP ticket, challenged Pantami’s emergence in court. The Federal High Court in Gombe nullified the primary election and ordered a fresh exercise, which Pantami won again.
His candidacy later faced further uncertainty following a September 24 Supreme Court judgment concerning the eligibility of political parties to field candidates whose names were not included in membership registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the stipulated period.
Although INEC initially listed Pantami among the governorship candidates on August 29, the commission’s updated list released in October excluded his name.
Pantami subsequently, through his lawyers, issued a three-day ultimatum to INEC to reinstate his name, maintaining that he had fulfilled the necessary requirements.
INEC, however, maintained the exclusion of candidates missing from its final list and directed political parties dissatisfied with the decision to submit their complaints on or before October 24, 2026.
With the deadline now expired, uncertainty remains over Pantami’s participation in the 2027 governorship election.
Despite the setback, the former minister urged his supporters not to lose hope, reiterating his belief that political obstacles could not overturn what he described as divine destiny.
He called on them to continue praying, doing good and maintaining their faith amid the ongoing political uncertainty.
