Who Is PDP’s Gombe Governorship Candidate for 2027: Yayari or Prof. Pantami?

Who Is PDP’s Gombe Governorship Candidate for 2027: Yayari or Prof. Pantami?

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has been thrown into fresh political uncertainty following the emergence of two rival governorship candidates from opposing factions of the party, intensifying an already deep-rooted leadership crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a development that has further exposed divisions within the opposition party, one faction led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and backed by members of the party’s Board of Trustees presented Mohammed Ahmed Yayari as the PDP’s governorship candidate for Gombe State and handed him a Certificate of Return.

At the same time, another faction under the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed formally recognised former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, as the party’s governorship flag-bearer and also presented him with a Certificate of Return.

The parallel endorsements have created confusion over who will eventually secure the PDP ticket for the 2027 governorship race in Gombe State.

The faction loyal to Turaki unveiled Yayari during a ceremony where Certificates of Return were presented to candidates from different states. Party leaders used the occasion to emphasise loyalty and commitment among aspirants, warning against defections after securing party nominations.

Speaking at the event, prominent PDP chieftain  Barr. Turaki declared that candidates would be required to sign binding undertakings before their names are submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Nobody will take our mandate to another political party and get away with it,” he said, stressing that future candidates would be held accountable through strict agreements designed to safeguard the party’s interests.

Also speaking, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, described the exercise as part of efforts to position the party for future electoral contests.

“We are ready to go into the elections prepared with our candidates,” he stated.

Barrister Dupe Adesida, who spoke on behalf of the PDP State Chairmen Forum, commended the party leadership for sustaining the PDP despite the challenges confronting it.

However, in a parallel political drama, another faction convened a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and inauguration ceremony in Abuja, where Prof. Pantami was officially presented as the PDP governorship candidate for Gombe State.

The gathering, presided over by Abdulrahman Mohammed, who is the Faction National Chairman, drew party leaders and stakeholders from across the country. During the event, Certificates of Return were presented to candidates whose nominations the faction claimed had been recognised and published by INEC.

Pantami’s endorsement by the rival group has further complicated the battle for control of the PDP structure in Gombe State, leaving the party with two prominent figures laying claim to a single governorship ticket.

Political analysts believe the emergence of dual candidates reflects unresolved disputes within the PDP and could ultimately require intervention by the courts, the party’s national leadership, or INEC to determine which faction holds legitimate authority.

With the countdown to the 2027 elections already underway, the deepening crisis threatens to weaken the PDP’s chances of mounting a strong challenge in Gombe unless a political settlement is reached.

For now, Mohammed Ahmed Yayari and Prof. Isa Ali Pantami remain at the center of a fierce struggle that could shape the future of the PDP in Gombe State.