Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State after defecting from the All Progressives Congress.
Pantami clinched the PDP ticket through a voice affirmation during the party’s governorship primary held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Gombe.
Chairman of the electoral panel, Gregory Yenlong, announced that Pantami polled 52,955 votes across the state’s three senatorial districts, with 16,781 in Gombe North, 12,752 in Gombe Central and 23,422 in Gombe South.
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He was subsequently affirmed as the party’s candidate following a motion by Sambo Sa’adu and a second by Bulus Maikori.
Pantami said he entered the race to serve the people of Gombe State and pledged a government anchored on fairness, justice and accountability if elected in 2027.
His emergence follows his withdrawal from the APC governorship race earlier in May 2026, after disputes over the adoption of businessman Jamilu Gwamna as consensus candidate and his insistence on direct primaries, which he said were not transparently conducted.