By Seun Ayeni
A political commentary circulating in Gombe State has placed women, leadership and political trust at the centre of discussions surrounding Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and the 2027 governorship race.
The commentary, titled “Women, Leadership and the Politics of Trust,” argues that women's experiences and participation should form an important part of conversations about development, governance and political leadership.
It also highlights Pantami's previous public roles in digital skills, entrepreneurship and technology, areas his supporters associate with opportunities for young people and women.
Pantami served as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and previously headed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). His supporters have continued to point to his work in digital skills and entrepreneurship as part of his public record.
The commentary argues that political perceptions among women are not necessarily formed during election campaigns alone, but can develop over years through personal experiences, family relationships, professional opportunities, public speeches and interactions with political figures.
It specifically references women in Gombe who, according to the commentary, became familiar with Pantami through religious lectures, public teaching, professional connections, relatives or experiences associated with his public service.
The writer argues that such experiences can influence how communities develop trust in political leaders, while stressing that political support should ultimately be assessed against measurable outcomes.
“Women should not merely be treated as a political audience,” the commentary states, arguing that women are citizens whose experiences can provide an indication of whether government policies are improving everyday life.
The commentary also makes a distinction between personal goodwill towards a political figure and the responsibilities that come with democratic leadership.
It argues that support for any political leader should be accompanied by questions about institutions, policies, economic opportunities and measurable results.
The issues highlighted include employment, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, education and economic opportunities for women and young people in Gombe State.
The argument comes against the backdrop of growing political activity ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Pantami's political trajectory in Gombe has attracted considerable attention. He revalidated his membership of the All Progressives Congress earlier in 2026 but later withdrew from the party's governorship primary, citing concerns over the conduct of the process and alleged violations of the Electoral Act and party guidelines. Those claims were made by Pantami and his supporters and were not a judicial finding.
Pantami was subsequently presented with a certificate of return by the Peoples Democratic Party as its recognised governorship candidate for the 2027 Gombe election, according to reports published in June.
The political debate in Gombe is therefore increasingly extending beyond individual candidates to issues of representation, development and the expectations of different voter groups.
The commentary argues that women should be regarded not simply as a voting bloc or campaign audience but as participants whose economic and social experiences can help measure the effectiveness of governance.
It ultimately calls for political trust to be tested through concrete opportunities, functioning institutions and demonstrable improvements in people's lives rather than speeches, photographs or political gatherings.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the role of women and young people in shaping political conversations in Gombe is likely to remain an important part of the state's emerging political discourse.
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