Gombe, NIGERIA – Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, has intensified his local engagement in Gombe State, receiving a steady stream of well-wishers and political allies at his residence.
Okay News gathered that the surge in visits follows Mr. Pantami’s formal revalidation of his membership with the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The revalidation, part of the party’s nationwide e-registration exercise, served to quell persistent rumors of a move to the opposition and reaffirmed his status within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race.
While the former Minister has not officially declared his candidacy to succeed Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the political atmosphere in Gombe suggests he is a primary contender. Addressing the large crowd that greeted him during his registration, Mr. Pantami described himself as a long-time “plainclothes politician,” noting his historical role in the merger that created the APC and his involvement in high-level consultations dating back to 2001.
Mr. Pantami also used the occasion to clarify his relationship with the current administration, describing his ties with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Yahaya as cordial. He revealed that he had declined three different appointments offered by the President to focus on his private life following the Buhari administration, though he continues to support the government’s agenda informally.
Supporters at his Gombe residence frequently point to his “digital economy” expertise and academic background as the ideal qualifications to modernize the state. With Governor Yahaya constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, political observers view Mr. Pantami’s recent grassroots mobilization as a clear signal that he is the frontrunner to beat should he formalize his gubernatorial bid.
