Chuks Okocha in Abuja
A former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has urged his supporters to remain steadfast in prayers and not be distracted by critics, saying those who worked against his candidacy would soon be exposed.
Pantami, an Islamic scholar, has been in the news since his formal declaration of intention to contest governorship election in Gombe State.
Previously a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pantami left the party after it settled for Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as its consensus governorship candidate in the State.
He subsequently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his political ambition, where he emerged as the party’s governorship on May 26, 2026.
But one of the aspirants, who sought the PDP governorship ticket, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, however, challenged Pantami’s emergence as the party’s flag-bearer in a Federal High Court in Gombe, which nullified the election and ordered fresh primary, which the former Minister clinched again.
But a September 24 Supreme Court judgement, which barred political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not in the membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the stipulated time later cast uncertainty on Pantami’s participation in the 2027 election.
Although his name was listed as a governorship candidate by INEC on August 29, the new list released by the commission in October excluded Pantami.
He had assured his supporters that the issue would be resolved and described the exclusion of his name as a temporary challenge, which was not out of the usual in the electoral process.
The former Minister, through his lawyers, later issued a three-day ultimatum to INEC to reinstate his name as a guber candidate, citing that he made and complied with all the requirements.
On its part, the INEC insisted that Pantami, alongside others not on the final list, remained excluded.
The commission asked political parties not satisfied with the decision to make their case and notify it on or before October 24, 2026, if they believed their candidates were wrongly excluded.
With the expiration of the deadline last weekend, Pantami, in a video shared Saturday on his Facebook page, speaking in Hausa, said no man can destroy someone whom Allah had predestined to succeed.
“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.
“This has made me very happy and gave me the encouragement that Allah has blessed us with people who truly love us. I pray that Allah will continue to help us.
“May Allah save us from letting one another down. May Allah reward us more than we can ever repay. Indeed, whoever does not appreciate people does not appreciate God.” he said in the video.
He commended his supporters and those who stood firmly behind him amid the challenges, asking them to not relent or be distracted by critics.
“You canvassed support, mobilised people, enlightened them and remained steadfast throughout this period. This is commendable, and this is a sign of true piety.
“Do not relent. Do not be angry or discouraged, because you are the ones who will be elevated, provided you remain steadfast in your belief in Allah.
“I saw people mocking you for gathering in mosques and churches to pray for us and seek Allah’s help. Those who do this are to be pitied because they do not understand the power and might of Allah. They are not our enemies, but they should be pitied.
“Mocking or ridiculing someone who seeks help from Allah is a serious matter that could provoke calamity. Let this not discourage you. Such things have happened even to the Prophets of Allah.”
