“Let Us Debate Records, Not Insults” — Pantami Challenges Opponents Ahead Of Gombe 2027

The Gubernatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Gombe State, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, CON, FCIIS, FBCS, FNCS (Majidadin Daular Usmaniyya and Wazirin Pantami), has declared readiness to debate his records, ideas and the future of Gombe State.

Pantami, who gladly welcomed the invitation for an open debate, said the debate should be open to the people of Gombe and televised live so that the public can assess, analyse, ask questions and judge for themselves.

To demonstrate his readiness to discuss pressing issues bedevilling the state and the way forward, Pantami said he is ready to appear for the debate as early as tomorrow, Thursday, September 24, 2026, by 10am.

In a statement signed by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement on September 23, 2026, Pantami was described as a proven technocrat of unrivalled administrative experience.

According to the statement, during the fledgling days of his public service, Pantami was given an eight-point priority agenda, which he delivered magnificently with an “A” grade in a rating by the Federal Government, KPMG and FCDO — a feat that remains unmatched till date.

It added that throughout his tenure at the helm of various government offices, Pantami never left any office burdened with huge debts, gross misconduct or administrative limbo to the extent that a regulatory agency had to wade in.

“With the help of Allah, he delivered and even extended his mandate, which subsequently led to a deluge of encomiums from all and sundry,” the statement said.

Pantami said he has always believed that leadership should be subjected to constructive public scrutiny, and he is ready to engage any governorship candidate in an issue-based conversation about the future of Gombe.

“The debate should not be about personalities, insults or empty political rhetoric, but about ideas, records, capacity, measurable achievements and what each candidate intends to do differently for the people of Gombe State,” it stated.

The statement noted that Pantami comes to the governorship conversation with a verifiable record as Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, and as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

Under his stewardship, Nigeria implemented the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, launched 5G services, expanded broadband penetration, strengthened the digital identity ecosystem and accelerated digital transformation.

The ICT sector’s contribution to real GDP rose from 14.07 per cent in Q1 2020 to 17.83 per cent in Q2 2020, and subsequently to 17.92 per cent in Q2 2021 and 18.44 per cent in Q2 2022. The sector also recorded the highest growth rate of any sector in Q4 2020.

In terms of revenue, official figures showed more than N1.054 trillion generated for the Federal Government between August 2019 and July 2021 from spectrum sales and taxes paid by ICT companies.

Records also show 21 national policies developed under the Ministry and more than 4,000 projects, programmes, trainings and centres established nationwide, with over 219,000 Nigerians benefiting directly from digital skills training.

“There is hardly any part of Nigeria that does not bear the imprint of projects facilitated through the Ministry and its agencies during Prof. Pantami’s tenure. Gombe State was not left behind,” the statement said.

It added that Pantami’s recently released compendium documents over 241 legacy projects and more than 700 employment opportunities facilitated during his years in public service across Gombe’s 11 local government areas, including high-profile appointments such as MD, Galaxy Backbone, and Chairmen of Boards of NITDA, NIPOST and NIMC.

“That is why Prof. Pantami welcomes the challenge of a debate. If the conversation is about employment, let us examine the employment record. If it is about human-capital development, let us put the numbers and beneficiaries on the table. If it is about institutions, let us examine the institutions each candidate has managed,” the statement said.

“And if the conversation is about Gombe, then let us move beyond slogans and discuss precisely how we intend to transform the state’s economy, improve education and healthcare, create productive employment, strengthen agriculture, expand industrialisation and provide opportunities for the young people who constitute the majority of our population.”

The Movement insisted that Gombe deserves an election where ideas are tested, records examined and candidates held accountable.

“Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is ready. Any day. Any time. Let us debate the issues that matter to Gombe. We are available as early as tomorrow, Thursday 24th of September, 2026 by 10am.

May Allah bless Gombe State. May Allah bless Nigeria,” the statement concluded.