Gombe 2027: Cleared Candidates Eye Pantami’s Supporters

People across Gombe State as well as political observers have described the exclusion of former minister of communications and digital economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, from INEC’s final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 election in the state as an opportunity for other candidates to woo his supporters.

They suggested that candidates cleared by INEC could take advantage of the situation to strengthen their political bases ahead of the election. Pantami’s absence from the list has left questions about the political direction of his supporters, particularly those who had rallied behind his ambition to govern the state.

However, efforts to establish how the leading candidates are planning to woo Pantami’s loyalists have so far yielded limited responses. Sani Ibrahim Shawai, a spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, said the camp was not ready to discuss its strategy with journalists. “Not yet. It’s part of our strategy,” Shawai said.

Similarly, Abdulladir Aliyu, a media aide to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, did not answer calls or respond to messages sent to him at press time. It is unclear whether the parties have begun any formal outreach to Pantami’s supporters or are keeping their plans confidential.

Yet, political commentators at different forums in the state and across social media platforms have described the situation as an opportunity for candidates who made the INEC list to win over Pantami’s supporters.