An Excerpt From the Piece of Abu-Ubaida Ibrahim Kùnà: By Danjuma Kala Gombe.

Institutional Authority and Governance Standards

In the course of democratic governance, voters entrust their future to leaders whose credentials and character have been rigorously tested and validated. This responsibility becomes even more critical when candidates seek to lead states like Gombe, which faces complex developmental challenges requiring leaders of proven competence and unquestionable integrity. It is therefore imperative that the electorate scrutinize not merely the promises candidates make, but the foundation upon which those promises rest. When institutional examination reveals serious concerns about a candidate’s qualifications and professional standing, voters deserve to understand those concerns clearly and comprehensively. Such is the case with Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, whose bid for the gubernatorial seat in Gombe State must be evaluated against documented institutional concerns regarding his academic advancement and the procedural irregularities surrounding his appointment.

The question is not whether technical authority was exercised, but whether institutional processes were followed with appropriate rigor, transparency, and adherence to established standards. A leader who demonstrates willingness to advance through processes marked by serious procedural irregularities sends a clear message about how that leader would approach governance itself. Will such a leader respect established institutional standards? Will he ensure transparency in important decisions? Will he accept rigorous scrutiny of his actions? These are not abstract questions posed by academic purists, they are concrete governance concerns that directly affect how a state functions and the standards it represents.

Distinguishing Institutional Roles: ASUU’s Investigative Findings

It is important to clarify institutional roles and authorities in this matter. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, representing professors and scholars across Nigerian universities, does not appoint professors. That authority rests with individual university governing councils, which are the bodies with formal administrative power to make such appointments. The Federal University of Technology, Owerri’s Governing Council is the authority that appointed Pantami to the rank of professor, and as a formal administrative act, that appointment remains in effect because the Governing Council has not formally revoked it.

However, ASUU, as the most authoritative voice of Nigeria’s academic community, conducted a detailed investigative examination of Pantami’s appointment and documented serious concerns about the process and qualifications involved. In 2021, ASUU released findings that were unambiguous and consequential: the appointment process had violated established academic standards and procedures. While ASUU does not have formal authority to revoke the appointment, its investigative findings carry significant institutional weight. They represent the professional judgment of Nigeria’s premier academic body regarding whether established standards were observed. These findings matter not because ASUU appointed Pantami, but because they document whether the appointment process itself met the standards the academic community expects.

Procedural Concerns and Substantive Deficiencies

The substance of ASUU’s documented concerns was both detailed and serious. At the time of Pantami’s appointment to the rank of professor, he possessed only approximately one year of post-doctoral teaching experience. This is extraordinarily limited compared to the established standards within Nigerian universities, where professorial appointments typically require a minimum of several years of demonstrable teaching excellence, research productivity, and scholarly contribution. Traditional academic progression through Senior Lecturer and Reader ranks represents years of scholarly work, successful teaching, and administrative contribution. Pantami had not progressed through these established ranks, a deviation from standard academic practice that raises fundamental questions about whether established advancement criteria were applied.

Beyond insufficient experience, the appointment process itself exhibited serious procedural irregularities. What constitutes normal academic practice in university systems worldwide is a rigorous, multi-staged evaluation process that typically extends over years, involving departmental assessment, external peer review by leading scholars, examination of publication records, plagiarism verification, and multiple institutional scrutiny layers. Pantami’s appointment process was reportedly concluded in approximately three months. This extraordinary compression raises questions about whether appropriate diligence was observed. Critical evaluation stages were reportedly bypassed or inadequately conducted. Departmental assessments appear not to have been thorough. External reviews do not appear to have been properly executed. Plagiarism checks were reportedly insufficient. Most troublingly, key documents including detailed assessors’ reports and comprehensive publication records were not made available for proper scrutiny. This lack of transparency raises serious questions about institutional process.

Standards, Character, and Governance Judgment

What makes the documented procedural concerns particularly relevant to governance is what they suggest about standards and judgment. Even if the Governing Council had full authority to appoint Pantami through any process it chose, the question for voters is whether the process that was followed reflects the standards Gombe State deserves in its leadership. Did the appointment follow established academic practice? Were decisions made transparently and with appropriate scrutiny? Were qualifications evaluated fairly against established criteria?

ASUU’s investigation documented that the answer to these questions is troubling. The appointment process deviated from established standards. Evaluation stages were bypassed. Transparency was absent. A serious academic body concluded that established procedures were not observed. This is not a matter of whether the Governing Council had the authority to make the appointment, it is a matter of whether the appointment was made through a process that reflects institutional integrity and adherence to established standards. For governance purposes, this distinction is critical. A leader who demonstrated willingness to advance through compromised procedures raises legitimate questions about whether that leader, when in executive position, would similarly circumvent established processes when convenient.

Institutional Standards and State Development

The broader implications for governance are substantial. A governor is not merely an executive responsible for implementing policies and managing resources. A governor is the symbolic and institutional head of state government, representing the values and standards the state expects from leadership. When that governor is someone who advanced through a process that serious academic institutions documented as deviating from established standards, and who continues to hold a rank that such institutions questioned, the message sent to state institutions is concerning.

Governance in Gombe State requires a leader committed to institutional integrity and established processes. The state faces serious developmental challenges in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. These challenges require leaders who work effectively within institutional frameworks, maintain transparency in decision-making, and earn trust through demonstrated commitment to proper process and institutional standards. A leader whose rise involved procedural irregularities documented by credible institutional authorities raises questions about whether that leader will similarly prioritize convenience over proper process when governing.

The Voter’s Consideration

For Gombe voters, the relevant question is not whether the Governing Council had authority to appoint Pantami. The question is whether the appointment was made through a process reflecting the institutional standards and transparency Gombe deserves. Documented evidence shows the appointment process deviated from established academic practice and involved serious procedural irregularities. This is not trivial. It reflects on institutional values and standards.

Gombe State requires leadership built on demonstrated respect for institutional processes, transparent decision-making, and adherence to established standards. A governor’s past behavior is the most reliable indicator of future conduct. A leader who advanced through a process marked by procedural irregularities, lack of transparency, and deviation from established standards raises legitimate concerns about how that leader would approach governance. Gombe voters deserve a governor whose advancement was achieved through legitimate institutional processes, whose qualifications were fairly evaluated against established criteria, and whose respect for institutional standards is unambiguous. The documented procedural concerns regarding Pantami’s appointment suggest these standards may not characterize his pattern.

Danjuma Kala,
Former Secretary General NUJ, Gombe State, Sept 5, 2026 Gombe State, Nigeria