Fact-Check: Is Former Minister Pantami Planning to Marry Aisha Buhari?
By Abdul Ozumi
Claim: A viral social media post claimed that former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, is set to marry former Nigerian first lady, Aisha Buhari.
The claim is accompanied by an image presented as the duo’s “pre-wedding” photograph, bearing captions that read, “welcome to the wedding Fatiha of Malam Isa Ali Fantami & Aisha Buhari (sic).”
The post was shared by a Facebook page, Adamawa Pulse, which has about 70,000 followers. As of the time of verification, the post had garnered over 1,000 reactions, 406 comments, and 665 shares. Although the page described the report as a rumour, it stated that updates would be provided if new information emerged.
The claim circulated with the following message:
“Wedding rumour trends online. A photo circulating online allegedly suggests that Malam Isa Ali Pantami and Aisha Buhari may be getting married. However, this is based on unverified information, and there is no official confirmation yet. For now, the story remains a rumor, and we will share updates if more reliable information becomes available.”
The image was also credited to a Facebook user, Dan Almajiri Rara (Sani Rabiu), who posted it with a Hausa caption questioning its authenticity. Senator Shehu Sani and a Northern politician, Magaji Muazu further amplified the image, sharing it with different captions that read, “Waris did?” and “Kayyasa! Skills not just degree!”—suggesting surprise or scepticism. In both instances, the posts attracted thousands of comments and Likes.
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), died at the age of 82 on July 13, 2025 at a private clinic in London, United Kingdom, following a prolonged illness.
Buhari is survived by his wife Aisha Buhari whom he married in 1989, eight children, and several grandchildren.
Aisha completed her Islamic mourning period (idda) on November 18, 2025, exactly four months and ten days after the death of her husband, Muhammadu Buhari. Following the completion of her mourning, rumours emerged regarding potential suitors and remarriage.
Verification
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To verify the claim, PRNigeria reviewed the official social media platforms of Aisha Buhari on Facebook and Instagram, as well as the official Facebook and X accounts of the former Minister. There was no such public announcement, indication, or reference supporting the alleged marriage plans.
PRNigeria also conducted keyword searches across credible news platforms. The search revealed that Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, had publicly dismissed the claim as unfounded. In a post written in Hausa on his official Facebook page, Ahmad described the rumour as completely false, stressing that it contained no element of truth.
Translated into English, Ahmad’s statement reads:
“This is not a story that even deserves an attempt at refutation, because anyone with sense would not take it seriously. However, since some people continue to spread the rumour, it has become necessary to clarify the truth. The story being circulated that Hajiya Aisha Buhari has agreed to marry Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami is an outright lie. There is absolutely no truth in it whatsoever.”
Further checks show that in December 2025, Aisha Buhari was quoted as saying she would not remarry following the death of her husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari. The statement was documented in a 600-page book by Omole titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, unveiled at the State House in December 2025. The book chronicles Buhari’s life from childhood in Daura, Katsina State, to his death in a London hospital in July 2025.
PRNigeria fact check further subjected the image to InVid verification forensics and found evidence that the image was digitally manipulated. The image was then subjected to further checks using an AI-detection tool, AI or Not, which confirmed that the photograph was artificially generated.
PRNigeria fact check also reached out to the former Minister who categorically debunked the claim. “It is shocking that anyone would fabricate such a rumour. President Buhari is a father figure to us, and we regard his widow as a mother. The claim is baseless and impossible,” Pantami told PRNigeria.
Conclusion: There is no evidence to support claims that Professor Isa Ali Pantami and Aisha Buhari are planning to get married. The widely circulated “pre-wedding” image is AI-generated, and the former Minister himself has dismissed the rumour in a phone chat with PRNigeria.
Verdict: The claim is false and misleading.
By PRNigeria
