By Achile Danjuma
A group of youths and loyalists associated with renowned Islamic scholar and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami, has purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship nomination and expression of interest forms on his behalf, at a cost of ₦50 million, setting in motion a potential bid for the Gombe State governorship seat in the 2027 general elections.
Multiple sources close to the group confirmed the transaction, stating the move is a grassroots-driven initiative to persuade the cleric-turned-politician to seek the nation’s number one position in the state.
Sheikh Pantami, who served as a key cabinet member under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has overseen one of the government’s most ambitious portfolios—steering Nigeria’s digital economy agenda. His tenure was notable for policy shifts including the controversial implementation of the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM card linkage policy.
In recent months, Pantami’s public engagements and strategic appearances across Gombe State have fueled widespread speculation about his political ambitions. Political observers note a marked uptick in his visibility, including consultations with interest groups and community leaders, signaling a calculated move toward the governorship race.
However, the potential candidacy has not been without internal and external dissent. A significant cross-section of social media commentators and followers has publicly advised the Islamic scholar against entering Nigeria’s political arena. Their argument centers on the perceived incompatibility between his clerical standing and the often-unsentimental realities of the nation’s political culture.
“Nigeria’s political space is not calibrated to Islamic ideals,” one social media critic wrote in a widely circulated post. Others point to what they describe as the “hypocrisy” adopted by many politicians to survive and thrive in the system, warning that a foray into partisan politics could irreparably tarnish the image of a man known for religious scholarship.
At the time of filing this report, neither Sheikh Pantami nor his official media representatives had issued a direct statement accepting or rejecting the forms purchased on his behalf. The APC national headquarters has also not commented on the development, as the official sale of nomination forms for the 2027 cycle is typically announced closer to the election year.
Efforts to reach the group of loyalists who purchased the forms were unsuccessful, but a source within the coalition stated they remain hopeful Pantami will heed what they call a “call to service.”