Gombe State

By Hadiza Abdulkadir


The name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has been omitted from the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prompting concerns among his supporters in Gombe State.

In a statement dated October 10, 2026, Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe said Pantami’s name was missing from the list following a fresh Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election held on September 29, reportedly ordered by the Federal High Court.

Gombe assured supporters that the omission was a temporary setback, adding that the candidate’s legal and liaison teams were engaging with relevant party organs and INEC to secure a resolution within the period allowed by law.

He urged members of the PDP and the Pantamiyya Movement to remain calm and continue their mobilisation, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved.

The statement did not specify the reasons for the omission or provide further details of the ongoing legal engagements.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Gombe State Government has commenced the disbursement of N10.32 billion in gratuities to 6,665 retired workers across state and local government services.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya announced the payment on Thursday during the launch of the sixth tranche of gratuity payments by his administration since 2019.

According to the governor, N6.24 billion was approved for 2,354 state government retirees covering 2024 and 2025, while N4.08 billion was allocated to settle outstanding gratuities for 4,311 local government retirees.

Yahaya said his administration inherited N21 billion in unpaid gratuities when it took office in 2019. The arrears covered local government retirees from 2012 to 2019 and state government retirees from 2014 to 2019.

“When we assumed office in 2019, we inherited a gratuity backlog of N21bn owed to state and local government retirees,” he said.

He explained that the state and local government finances were under pressure at the time, adding that local councils had borrowed N1.3 billion monthly between 2013 and 2019 to meet salary obligations.

“From the outset, we recognised that the welfare of retirees is not a privilege but a right, and that every worker who has served faithfully deserves to retire with dignity and financial security,” Yahaya said.

The governor said his administration continued to pay gratuities despite economic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, recessions, the Russia-Ukraine war, fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira.

“Yet through prudent management of scarce resources, we had paid a total of N33.283bn in gratuities before today,” he said.

He added that the latest disbursement had raised the total gratuities paid since 2019 to N44.134 billion.

“With today’s disbursement, our cumulative gratuity payment since 2019 has reached a historic N44.134bn,” the governor said.

Yahaya stated that the latest payment had cleared state government gratuity obligations up to December 2025, while payments for entitlements accruing from January 2026 were scheduled for early 2027.

He also disclosed plans to establish a sustainable arrangement to prevent future accumulation of gratuity arrears. Options under consideration include a contributory pension scheme or deductions from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“Our objective is simple: gratuity obligations must never again be allowed to accumulate and become an unbearable burden to the state and our retirees,” he said.

The governor further announced the release of N299 million in gratuities to former employees of the Gombe Investment and Property Development Company, following its dissolution and the creation of the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency.

He said approval had also been granted to settle outstanding gratuities owed to former local government chairmen and councillors from previous administrations up to the present period.

Yahaya said his government had implemented the new minimum wage for state and local government workers, alongside the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and Consolidated Health Salary Structure for doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

He maintained that salaries and pensions had been paid promptly throughout his tenure, including during periods of economic recession.

The governor said the need to address inherited gratuity arrears and an already overstaffed public service had influenced the administration’s decision to delay large-scale recruitment.

“The moral burden of clearing billions in gratuity arrears, together with an inherited service that was already overstaffed, compelled us to delay large-scale recruitment,” he said.

However, he noted that the government had employed 1,000 teachers, more than 440 health workers and hundreds of other personnel to meet staffing needs across ministries, departments and agencies.

“With the inherited backlog now cleared, Gombe State is in a stronger position to recruit new workers sustainably and strategically, aligned with the real needs of our public service and economy,” Yahaya said.

He appealed to retirees, civil servants and organised labour to support the government’s development efforts.

“We expect a renewed commitment and support from our retirees, civil servants and trade union groups to repay the support extended to them by our administration,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammadu Magaji, described the commencement of the payments as a significant development in the management of pensions and gratuities in the state.

Magaji praised retirees for their contributions to Gombe’s development through their years of public service.

“You have taught our children, you treated the sick, you administered our institutions, maintained infrastructure and kept the machinery of government functioning,” he said.

He stressed that the payment represented the government’s fulfilment of its responsibility to former workers.

“The payment being commenced today therefore is not a favour, but a fulfilment of obligation of government which is being upheld strongly by His Excellency, our dear governor,” Magaji said.

The commissioner described the disbursement as “a restoration of hope, a fulfilment of an obligation, and a demonstration that responsible governance can make a tangible difference in the lives of our people.”

He also commended the administration’s efforts to improve internally generated revenue, strengthen budget credibility and promote transparency and accountability in public finance.

Magaji cited the state’s participation in fiscal and governance reform programmes, including SIFTAS, SABER and HOPE, as part of its efforts to improve public financial management and institutional performance.

“Permit me, on behalf of the government and people of the state, to sincerely acknowledge and appreciate Your Excellency for this effort towards our pensioners and retirees,” he said.

He urged the beneficiaries to recognise the government’s efforts to settle the inherited obligations and prayed for continued strength and wisdom for the governor.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gombe State Chapter, has accused Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration of nonchalance over the reported outbreak of diphtheria in the state.

In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, AbdulKadir Ahmad Dukku, on September 13, 2026, the party said reliable reports indicated that diphtheria had broken out in parts of Nigeria’s North-Central and North-Eastern regions, including Gombe State.

The PDP described diphtheria as a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the throat and airways. It listed symptoms to include sore throat and pain when swallowing, fever and chills, weakness and tiredness, nasal discharge and, in some cases, a bloody cough. Severe cases, it said, could cause a rapid heartbeat and complications affecting the heart and nerves.

The party noted that the disease is preventable through vaccination, including DPT/DTaP/Td vaccines, and advised anyone suspected of having diphtheria to go to a health facility immediately and avoid close contact with others until properly assessed.

According to the PDP, schools have already been closed in Plateau and Bauchi states, while intensive public enlightenment, sensitisation, vaccination and other health interventions are being undertaken in affected areas. It added that reports also indicated the disease was spreading in neighbouring Yobe State.

Citing its situation report, the party said the disease, which predominantly affects children, had reportedly led to the admission of nine persons at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, with additional cases reported at the Federal Medical Centre, Kumo, as well as General Hospitals in Bajoga and Billiri.

The PDP strongly condemned what it called the failure of the APC-led state government to take sufficiently proactive measures to contain the reported spread of the disease, despite indications of its presence in the state.

It also challenged Governor Yahaya to demonstrate greater commitment to human capital development and public healthcare, arguing that while the government continues to commit substantial resources to infrastructural projects, the health and wellbeing of citizens must remain a priority.

The party called on the state government to publicly clarify the status of diphtheria in Gombe State and explain steps being taken to contain and prevent its further spread.

It also demanded that the government immediately announce and implement preventive measures to protect schoolchildren and the general public, publicise sustainable health intervention strategies—including sensitisation, public enlightenment, surveillance, testing, treatment and vaccination—and strengthen collaboration with relevant health authorities and institutions for prompt detection, treatment and containment of suspected and confirmed cases.

The PDP reminded the APC-led administration that the lives and wellbeing of the people of Gombe State must not be treated with levity, urging urgency and transparency in responding to the public health concern.

It added that after reportedly spending millions of Naira on Hausa praise singers from Kano, the people of Gombe State were entitled to know how much the state government was prepared to commit towards protecting their lives and preventing the further spread of the disease.

By Ibrahim Aliyu Gurin 

In Northern Nigeria’s political battlegrounds, the loudest attacks don’t always come from campaign podiums. Long before Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp turned everyone into a publisher, Hausaland already had its own version of political messaging.

The maroƙi (praise-singer) was more than a singer. He was a storyteller, historian and public commentator. When a leader did well, he sang yabo, verses filled with praise and the same performer could just as easily turn that skill toward humiliation by mocking a rival’s failures, appearance, or character in verses crafted to stick in public memory, which is referred to as zambo. 

Zambo is a sharp, witty poetry designed to mock, embarrass or expose. It wasn’t always pleasant, but it was part of the culture; the difference today is that zambo has become a political business.

Instead of entertaining a local crowd, one song can now reach millions of people before sunset. A chorus recorded in Kano can be playing in Kaduna, Sokoto, Abuja and even among Hausa communities abroad within hours.

No one illustrates this better than Dauda Kahutu Rarara. Over the years, he has released songs like Hannun Karɓa, Masu Gudu Su Gudu, Baba Buhari Dodar, Jagaba Shi Ne Gaba and recently Malam Ya Yi Rawa. To his supporters, these are campaign anthems. To his critics, they are political attacks wrapped in catchy melodies. Whatever side you take, one thing is difficult to deny: people remember the songs long after they have forgotten the campaign speeches, and this alone says something about the power of music.

What makes today’s political songs different from the poetry of men like Sa’adu Zungur, Mudi Sipikin or Garba Affa is intention. Earlier political poetry was designed to awaken society, challenge injustice and educate the people. Much of today’s political music is driven by patronage. A politician hires a musician, the musician praises one side, ridicules the other, and the song becomes another campaign strategy.

Perhaps that is why political music now feels less like public service and more like political advertising. There is nothing wrong with musicians supporting politicians. Every artist has the right to hold political views. The concern begins when entertainment replaces truth, becomes more influential than verified facts, and insults travel farther than ideas.

Maybe the bigger question is not why politicians pay musicians. Maybe it is why we, the listeners, remember the insults more easily than the policies.

As another election season approaches, perhaps the challenge is to enjoy the music without allowing the chorus to become our ballot paper. After all, a hit song lasts only a few minutes, but the consequences of the leaders we choose can last for years.

Ibrahim Aliyu Gurin is a graduate of mass communication from Bayero University, Kano, and can be reached at ibrahimaliyu5023@gmail.com.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad 

One of the gubernatorial ambitions generating the most intense debate and public interest ahead of the Gombe State 2027 governorship race is that of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

From the outset, Professor Pantami’s reported interest in contesting for the governorship attracted attention far beyond the borders of Gombe State. This is largely because he is not regarded as a conventional politician. Rather, he is an accomplished academic, Islamic scholar, technocrat, and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy whose tenure earned him national recognition for driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Pantami’s potential candidacy appears to enjoy support from three distinct constituencies.

The first consists of those who genuinely believe he has something significant to offer the state. They draw inspiration from his performance as minister, citing his reforms in the digital economy, the expansion of broadband infrastructure, the growth of digital identity enrolment, and his emphasis on innovation, transparency, and public sector efficiency. To this group, his administrative record demonstrates that he possesses the competence and vision required to govern Gombe State.

The second group is found within the opposition in Gombe state, particularly elements of the PDP, who view Pantami as one of the few personalities with the political profile, credibility, and public appeal capable of mounting a serious challenge against the APC’s candidate-Dr. Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna. Whether they support him or not, many acknowledge that his entry into the race would significantly alter the political equation.

The third constituency comprises sections of the religious community who see his ambition as an opportunity for one of their own to demonstrate how religious scholarship, intellectual depth, and public service can translate into effective democratic governance. For many within this group, his candidacy represents more than a political contest; it is an opportunity to test whether the values he has consistently preached can be successfully applied in elective office.

Like every major political figure, Pantami also faces opposition from different quarters.

The first group consists mainly of career politicians who believe he is entering a political space traditionally occupied by established political actors. To them, he is an outsider attempting to disrupt existing political calculations, alliances, and structures that have been built over many years.

Perhaps more surprisingly, the second group of opponents comes from within sections of his immediate religious constituency. Some clerics and religious associates reportedly believe that during his tenure as minister, he did not sufficiently carry them along or extend the expected level of inclusion and patronage. Consequently, while they may respect his scholarly credentials, they remain reluctant to support his political ambition.

Another dimension that has attracted considerable attention is the political dexterity with which Pantami secured the PDP gubernatorial ticket. The manner in which he navigated the party’s internal dynamics and emerged as its flagbearer suggests careful planning and strategic preparation rather than mere political ambition. His decision to align with the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the PDP, a bloc widely perceived in political circles as maintaining a cooperative relationship with the APC-led Federal Government, has further strengthened his political positioning. The goodwill and support he reportedly enjoys within that tendency of the PDP could prove to be a significant advantage as the campaign unfolds.

In addition, Pantami could benefit from protest votes originating from within the APC. Some influential APC stakeholders and their supporters who believe Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has not done sufficient justice to their political aspirations or interests may choose to channel their dissatisfaction by supporting Pantami. While it remains to be seen how substantial such a shift could be, the possibility of cross-party protest votes is a factor that political observers cannot ignore.

Whichever way one chooses to examine it, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami’s potential governorship candidacy is in a class of its own. What initially appeared to be little more than speculation or a distant aspiration has steadily evolved into one of the defining conversations in Gombe State politics. official campaign has yet to commence, but the discussions surrounding Pantami’s governorship ambition have already reshaped Gombe State’s political landscape, making him a force that political stakeholders can no longer afford to ignore.

The ultimate test, however, will not simply be the enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy but his ability to convert goodwill into an effective political structure, sustain broad-based alliances, and persuade the electorate that his administrative achievements at the federal level can be replicated in Gombe State. Regardless of the eventual outcome, Pantami has already ensured that the Gombe 2027 governorship contest will be one of the most closely watched political battles in the state’s history.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Gombe State Police Command has returned Toyota Highlander SUV to its rightful owner after recovering the vehicle almost five years after it was stolen in Rivers State.

The command handed the vehicle to Mrs Cecilia Duru of Port Harcourt on Friday after operatives of the State Intelligence Department concluded investigations that confirmed her ownership.

Police said the SUV was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a joint operation by the State Intelligence Department and the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.

According to the command, officials intercepted the vehicle during a routine verification of vehicle records while it was undergoing re-registration.

Investigators established that the Toyota Highlander was stolen from Mrs Duru in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 17, 2021.

“The investigation established that the vehicle belongs to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Further findings revealed that after it was stolen, the vehicle was taken to the Republic of Niger in 2023.

“It later re-entered Nigeria through Illela, Sokoto State, in October 2025, before it was sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was intercepted,” the police stated.

The command said efforts to determine those responsible for the theft and the movement of the vehicle across several locations are still in progress.

“While efforts continue to unravel those behind the theft and illegal movement of the vehicle, the command is pleased to hand over the recovered Toyota Highlander to its rightful owner today, July 24, 2026,” the police said.

The police also reaffirmed their resolve to tackle vehicle theft and other forms of organised crime through intelligence-led operations and collaboration with relevant security agencies.

The command advised members of the public to verify the authenticity of vehicle documents before buying used vehicles. It also urged residents to report suspicious vehicle transactions to security agencies promptly.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has distanced itself from what it describes as an illegal primary election conducted by a faction of disgruntled members, insisting that the party remains united and has already concluded all nomination processes.

In a press statement issued on May 30, 2026, the state party leadership, led by former Governor Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Talban Gombe) and state Chairman Major General Amnon Kalaye Kwaskebe (Rtd), said the actions of certain mischief-makers pose a threat to party unity and democracy.

According to the statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, all PDP primary elections in Gombe State have been completed, and the party has no faction. The leadership specifically confirmed the recent affirmation of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections.

“The PDP in Gombe State is one united family without any faction and cannot stand to watch mischief elements causing confusion within the party ranks,” the statement read. “We therefore disassociate ourselves from such unconstitutional acts capable of causing division among party members.”

The party advised all stakeholders, members, and supporters to ignore the activities of what it called unpatriotic elements who do not want the progress and development of Gombe State.

By Ukasha Kofarnassarawa 

Like almost everyone, I saw that Sheikh Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami is now PDP’s gubernatorial flag bearer for Gombe State. Congratulations to him. Pantami is now everything he once criticised. But that’s not my focus here; the internet has receipts for anyone interested in digging.

The real calculation:

Amid all the “consensus-coronation” drama unfolding nationwide, many observers expected Sheikh to defect to either ADC or the NDC, which are seen as the strongest opposition blocs. But Abuja is playing a different game. This looks calculated.

Right now, the entire core North — both North-West and North-East — is held by APC governors, except Bauchi, which lately switched to APM. The party’s structure and acceptability are widely seen as weak, and the state is likely to return to APC in the next election, given its current flag bearer, the former governor of the state.

For the President’s party, having zero opposition across the whole core north would be a dangerous optics problem. It would look like a monopoly. To avoid that, Abuja needs to “sacrifice” 2  core northern states to the opposition, just to create balance. One in the northwest and the other in the northeast.

And among all opposition parties, PDP is the “lesser evil” from Abuja’s view because one of its sons controls a major faction there. So Pantami decamped to the PDP, which functions as an extension of the APC. The plan: he gets “appointed” governor to create the illusion of balance, then switches to the main APC immediately after winning.

Abuja’s handwriting is not hard to understand.

Ukasha Kofarnassarawa wrote via Ukasha_sani@yahoo.com.

By Muhammad Abubakar

A major crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State following the emergence of former minister Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

One of the aspirants, Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, alongside other contenders including Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Usman Aliyu Garry, and Monica Kaltho, rejected the outcome of the PDP primary held on Tuesday. Pantami was declared winner through a voice vote after delegates affirmed him as the party’s sole candidate.

The aggrieved aspirants argued that Pantami was ineligible to contest the PDP primary because he had only recently left the ruling All Progressives Congress after participating in its internal political process. They claimed electoral laws do not permit a politician to contest in two different party primaries within the same election cycle.

Saleh also questioned the sudden postponement of the PDP primary from Sunday to Tuesday, describing the process as unfair and unlawful. He confirmed that his legal team had begun preparations to challenge Pantami’s emergence in court and urged his supporters across Gombe State to remain peaceful while the matter is resolved legally.

Pantami, who recently defected from the APC after criticising the party’s consensus arrangement that produced Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as a candidate, said his decision to join the PDP was driven by a desire to tackle poverty and improve governance in Gombe State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has pulled out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Gombe State.

Pantami announced his withdrawal on Tuesday through a statement issued by Barrister Ibrahim M. Attahir on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement.

The former minister said his decision followed alleged violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and what he described as the APC leadership’s failure to provide information needed for a transparent and credible primary election.

According to the statement, Pantami joined the race after pressure from political leaders, women, youths and other stakeholders in the state. It added that he complied with the party’s guidelines and fulfilled all requirements expected of aspirants.

The statement also noted that Pantami was the only APC governorship aspirant who sent a representative to the Peace Accord meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Force, Gombe State Command, on May 14, 2026. It said his representative was also the only one who signed the agreement during the meeting.

Pantami, however, accused the party of denying him access to important details concerning the conduct of the direct primaries.

The statement said letters written by his solicitors to party officials over concerns surrounding the exercise were neither acknowledged nor answered.

“In a democracy, the law must guide the process. Non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the party guidelines renders the exercise unsafe and illegitimate,” the statement said.

It further alleged that irregularities marred the APC National Assembly direct primaries conducted in the state on May 16 and 18.

“The people of Gombe State witnessed what transpired during the direct primary ‘elections’ for the National Assembly held on 16 and 18 May 2026,” the statement added.

Pantami maintained that many grassroots party members, especially women and youths who form the bulk of his support base, were excluded from the process.

The statement said the former minister decided to withdraw after consultations with stakeholders across the state.

“After extensive consultations with stakeholders and careful reflection on the developments in Gombe State, Prof. Pantami has taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the APC governorship primary election scheduled for 21 May 2026, under protest. Peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of democracy,” it stated.

The movement also accused party leaders of ignoring directives by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need for free and credible direct primaries.

According to the statement, details relating to accreditation of agents and observers, voting procedures and collation centres were not provided to aspirants before the exercise.

“Even though President Bola Ahmed Tinubu insisted on the necessity of free, fair, and credible direct primaries, his directives were, unfortunately, not implemented,” the statement said.

Pantami also expressed appreciation to supporters who contributed money for the purchase of his nomination and expression of interest forms through crowdfunding.

The statement disclosed that donations ranged from ₦5,000 to ₦4 million and were publicly acknowledged online.

He thanked youths, women, campaign coordinators, elders and members of his media and campaign teams for their support.

Pantami urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite the development.

“Democracy rests on the rule of law, peace, and security,” the statement added.

The Pantamiyya Movement said it would announce its next political steps in due course.