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 candidate on May 26, 2026.
However, one of the aspirants who sought the PDP guber ticket, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, 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 the 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, however, 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, Pantami, in a video shared Saturday on his verified Facebook page, speaking in Hausa, said no man can destroy someone whom Allah has 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.”
He cautioned against ridiculing his supporters for resorting to prayers in mosques and churches, saying mocking them for turning to Allah to seek help could provoke calamity on the dissenters.
“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.”
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The former Minister said their investigation had revealed and uncovered those he described as behind attempts to scuttle his candidacy.
He said all the schemes and the names of those who worked against the success of his political movement would soon be disclosed to the supporters.
“As for those whom you accused of repeatedly frustrating this movement, our investigations have now confirmed that these allegations are true. There is no amount of money or effort that has not been expended in an attempt to scuttle this movement.
“But our belief remains that this is a movement of Allah. If you read the story of Prophet Musa and Pharaoh, as narrated in the Qur’an and the Bible, particularly in the Book of Exodus, you will understand that no human being can stop what Allah has predestined for you.
“There are people who have publicly claimed to be fearless, insisting that they are not afraid and are ready for the battle. Yet, today, they are working day and night to prevent that very battle from taking place.
“Our message to them is that no one can destroy someone whom Allah has predestined to succeed. No one can stop God when He wills something to happen. We pray that Allah will help those who do not understand to understand. In a short while, we will expose, with detailed explanations, the hypocrisy and the plots carried out, as well as those behind it.
“We pray that Allah will continue to guide and help us. Do not relent in doing good.” he added.
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