Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a three-day ultimatum to publish his name as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State. Pantami's lawyers, Ahmed Raji & Co., delivered a letter to the INEC Chairman on October 12, 2026, demanding the publication of his name within the specified timeframe.
According to the letter, Pantami was duly nominated by the PDP after winning the fresh primary held on September 29, 2026. He had previously purchased the party's Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, was screened and cleared, and won the initial primary held on May 26, 2026. The PDP subsequently submitted his personal particulars, Form EC9, to INEC on August 8, 2026.
The commission published Pantami's name on August 29, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026. However, the May 26 primary was later challenged in two suits at the Federal High Court, Gombe, where the plaintiffs questioned Pantami's membership of the PDP. The court delivered judgments on September 24, 2026, resolving the membership question in Pantami's favour.
In one of the suits, the court held that the non-appearance of Pantami's name in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership, as membership of a political party is ordinarily a matter within the domestic affairs of the party. The court nullified the May 26 primary on grounds relating to its conduct and ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days.
The PDP complied with the court's order, duly notified INEC, and conducted the fresh primary on September 29, 2026, which was monitored by INEC officials. Pantami again emerged as the winner of the primary election. Despite this, INEC omitted his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026, without giving any reason.
Pantami's lawyers have faulted INEC's decision, describing it as unlawful. They demanded that the commission publish his name as the candidate of the PDP within three days from the date of the letter. The lead counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, emphasized that Pantami's name should be published to reflect the outcome of the fresh primary election.
The development adds to the pre-election tensions in Gombe State, as Pantami's supporters and the PDP await INEC's response to the ultimatum. The commission's decision to omit Pantami's name from the final list has raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process in the state.
Key points
- Pantami was duly nominated by the PDP after winning the fresh primary held on September 29, 2026.
- The court resolved the membership question in Pantami's favour in judgments delivered on September 24, 2026.
- INEC published Pantami's name on August 29, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
