Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has urged his supporters in Gombe State to remain steadfast in prayers and resist attempts to discourage them, declaring that those working against his political ambition would eventually be exposed.
Pantami made the remarks in a video shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, following months of legal and political battles surrounding his candidacy for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.
The former minister, who recently moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thanked supporters for organising prayers in mosques and churches and reciting the Holy Qur’an to seek divine intervention over the challenges facing his ambition.
He said their support had strengthened his confidence and demonstrated that he had people who genuinely cared about him, while praying that Allah would reward them for their commitment.
Pantami also urged his followers not to become angry, discouraged or distracted by critics who mocked their decision to seek divine assistance during the political crisis.
“You canvassed support, mobilised people, enlightened them and remained steadfast throughout this period. This is commendable, and this is a sign of true piety,” he said.
He added that his supporters should remain committed to their faith, expressing confidence that those who continued to stand firm would eventually be elevated.
The Islamic scholar further criticised those who ridiculed supporters for gathering in religious centres to pray for his political success, saying they failed to appreciate the power of Allah.
He, however, said such critics should be pitied rather than treated as enemies, warning his followers against allowing the mockery to weaken their resolve.
Pantami’s political ambition has faced a series of setbacks since he declared his intention to contest the Gombe governorship election.
He was previously a member of the APC but left the party after it settled for Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as its consensus governorship candidate. He subsequently joined the PDP, where he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate on May 26, 2026.
His emergence was challenged by another aspirant, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, who approached the Federal High Court in Gombe. The court nullified the primary election and ordered a fresh exercise, which Pantami won again.
However, uncertainty over his participation in the 2027 election deepened following a September 24 Supreme Court judgment concerning the eligibility of political parties to nominate candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the stipulated period.
Although INEC had included Pantami on its governorship candidates’ list released on August 29, his name was missing from the revised list published in October.
Pantami subsequently, through his lawyers, gave INEC a three-day ultimatum to reinstate his name, maintaining that he had fulfilled the requirements for the election.
The electoral commission, however, maintained its position that candidates omitted from the final list remained excluded. It directed political parties dissatisfied with the decision to present their cases on or before October 24, 2026.
With the deadline now expired, Pantami’s latest message appears aimed at reassuring supporters amid the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy.
The former minister has maintained that the exclusion of his name is a temporary challenge, urging his followers to remain hopeful while the dispute over his participation in the 2027 governorship race continues.
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