2023: Gombe residents drag Pantami to court, wants him compelled to run for governor

Some concerned residents across 114 political wards of Gombe State have instituted an order of mandamus in the High Court against the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, mandating him to contest the 2023 governorship election.

The order dated March 21, 2022, with 114 applicants, which has Pantami and the All Progressives Congress as defendants, will be heard under Justice A Y Abubakar of Gombe State High Court to compel the Minister to contest in any party of his choice.

Speaking during a briefing, the coordinator of the group, Muhammad Abdullahi, said the former National Information Technology Agency boss has displayed leadership by empowering youths across the state and the country.

According to Abdullahi, the group’s effort to get the attention of the minister to contest has proved abortive, adding that they were convinced that the minister is best option for the state.

He said, “To demonstrate our commitment to this cause is to use the Law to compel Professor Isa Ali Pantami to perform his duty in Gombe State by vying for the upcoming primaries in any party of his choice. This legal action was entered by 114 persons across the 114 wards, like-minded youths have decided to buy his nomination form. This petition is to awaken the interest of our leader (Isa Pantami).

“For the sake of the continuous prosperity of this great state, and with the evident track record and honorary achievement of one of its own, we hereby take this bold action to call on a leader and saviour who we believe is the perfect candidate. This is Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. He is young, learned, vibrant, who in the past had shown that he has the capacity to take our dear state to greater heights.” (The PUNCH)