Why Pantami Deserves the PDP Ticket and a Chance to Lead Gombe -By Abdulsamad Danji Abdulqadir

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State, the political conversation has entered another important stage. Following the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the earlier process, the party has fixed September 29, 2026, for a fresh primary, with Professor Isa Ali Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry cleared to participate.

For me, this is more than another political contest. It is an opportunity for the people of Gombe State and members of the PDP to look beyond political sentiments and examine the records, experience, character, capacity and vision of the aspirants. And based on what I have seen and read about Professor Isa Ali Pantami’s record in public service, I believe he deserves the opportunity to lead Gombe State.

Pantami’s argument does not begin with his political ambition. It begins with his record of service. Before entering the current governorship contest, he served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, where he was involved in policies and programmes aimed at expanding Nigeria’s digital economy, broadband infrastructure, digital skills and technological development. His ministry also oversaw major broadband projects targeting MSMEs and tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones.

During his ministerial tenure, the digital economy became an increasingly important part of Nigeria’s development agenda. Government records reported substantial growth in 4G coverage during the period, while initiatives around broadband, digital identity and emerging technologies were pursued nationally. Pantami himself also reported the formulation of 23 policies during his four years as minister and cited an increase in 4G coverage and the launch of 5G services among the developments recorded during his tenure.

Another major policy associated with his tenure was the NIN-SIM linkage exercise. Whatever one’s view of the policy, it was a major national undertaking that sought to connect telecommunications subscriber information with Nigeria’s national identity system. Pantami defended the policy despite the controversy and opposition it generated, arguing that it would strengthen the country’s digital identity infrastructure.

His experience was not limited to telecommunications. Pantami also became associated with institutional reforms at agencies within the communications and digital economy sector. In recent discussions with retired Gombe public servants, he pointed to his experience with agencies including NITDA and NIMC and proposed that lessons from those reforms could be adapted to the Gombe State civil service.

But politics is not only about what a politician did in Abuja. It is also about how people at home perceive that person. And this is where Pantami’s relationship with ordinary people in Gombe has become an important part of the current conversation. In villages and communities across the state, there are supporters who openly identify with his aspiration and speak positively about his generosity, accessibility and the assistance they say they have received from him.

What is particularly striking is the diversity of people expressing that support. The support being displayed around Pantami is not confined to one religious community. Christians and Muslims, including people from rural communities, have been seen expressing interest in his aspiration. For his supporters, this is an indication that the appeal they see in Pantami goes beyond religious or sectional considerations and is connected to their personal perception of his character and relationship with people.

Of course, political support should never be measured solely by the size of a crowd or the number of people appearing in campaign videos. But when ordinary citizens from different communities begin publicly associating themselves with a political aspiration, it is worth asking what is driving that support. In Pantami’s case, his supporters point to his generosity, his accessibility and his record of public service as reasons they believe he deserves the opportunity to lead.

There is also an argument to be made about experience. Governing a state requires more than political popularity. It involves managing institutions, developing policies, understanding budgets, working with civil servants, attracting investment and building relationships with federal institutions and development partners. Pantami’s years at the federal level exposed him to some of these responsibilities and gave him experience working with major government agencies and national programmes.

Gombe State also faces questions around human capital, education, employment, digital transformation, civil service reform, infrastructure and opportunities for young people. A leader with experience in the digital economy could potentially bring a different approach to some of these areas. Pantami’s supporters therefore see his background in technology and policy development as an asset that could be applied to the state’s development needs.

His recent engagement with retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from Gombe is another example of the conversation surrounding his proposed governance agenda. The retired public servants reportedly raised concerns about civil service procedures, promotion, remuneration and staff welfare, while Pantami said he had developed a reform blueprint following consultations with serving and retired public servants.

None of this means that Pantami should be above scrutiny, nor does it mean that other aspirants do not have qualifications or ideas worthy of consideration. A democratic contest requires every aspirant to present his record, programme and vision to the people. But if the question is whether Pantami has enough experience and a record that deserves serious consideration, my answer is yes.

The fresh PDP primary therefore presents another opportunity. This time, the process should be transparent, orderly and conducted in accordance with the party’s rules and the applicable electoral framework. The court’s decision has reopened the contest, and the PDP has confirmed that Pantami remains eligible to participate in the fresh primary.

For those of us who believe Pantami deserves the opportunity, the argument is simple: give the man who has served at the national level the chance to present his vision for his home state. Let the delegates examine his record, listen to his plans and make their decision. If his experience, achievements and relationship with ordinary people resonate with them, then the mandate should follow through a legitimate and transparent primary.

Gombe deserves a government that is judged by what it delivers, not merely by what it promises. Pantami’s supporters believe his record gives him a foundation from which he can build. They believe his experience, his connection with ordinary citizens and his exposure to national policy-making can be translated into meaningful development for Gombe. The September 29 primary will provide the opportunity for that argument to be tested through the democratic process.

For me, Professor Isa Ali Pantami deserves the PDP ticket and deserves the opportunity to seek the mandate of the people of Gombe State. The final decision, however, belongs to the party delegates and, ultimately, to the people of Gombe. What matters now is that the contest is conducted fairly and that the people are given the opportunity to judge every aspirant on his record, ideas and vision for the future of the state.