Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has issued a three-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish his name as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State. Pantami and the PDP accused INEC of unlawfully omitting his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026.
According to Pantami's lawyers, Ahmed Raji & Co., the electoral commission had previously published his particulars and monitored the court-ordered primary that produced him as the PDP governorship candidate. Pantami registered as a PDP member at Pantami Ward in Gombe State, and an updated membership register containing his name was submitted to INEC. He subsequently purchased the party's governorship nomination forms, underwent screening, and emerged victorious in the May 26, 2026, primary.
The PDP submitted Pantami's personal particulars through Form EC9 on August 8, 2026, in accordance with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026. INEC subsequently published his name on August 29, 2026, under Section 29(3) of the Act. The lawyers maintained that INEC raised no objection to his nomination at the time. However, the May 26 primary was challenged in two separate suits before the Federal High Court, Gombe.
The court rejected the challenges to Pantami's party membership, with the judgments noting that the party recognised Pantami and had produced a membership card and register containing his name. Although the September 24 judgments nullified the May 26 primary over issues concerning its conduct, they directed the PDP to organise a fresh exercise within 30 days, allowing all aspirants with valid screening clearance to participate.
The PDP conducted a fresh primary on September 29, 2026, which Pantami won with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki, who polled 389, and Garry, who secured 112 votes. INEC officials monitored the exercise, and their report remained in the commission's custody. Pantami's lawyers argued that only a court could remove a duly nominated candidate and that INEC's role in primaries is to attend, observe, monitor, and report, not to disqualify or cherry-pick.
Pantami's lawyers demanded that INEC publish his name with the same prominence as other candidates by October 14, 2026, and provide written confirmation of corrective action. The letter's heading describes the demand as a three-day ultimatum, although its operative paragraph specifies Wednesday, October 14, as the deadline. The demand was contained in a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman by Ahmed Raji & Co.
The development adds to the tensions between INEC and some PDP candidates in Gombe State. The commission has been under pressure to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and fair. As the deadline set by Pantami's lawyers draws near, it remains to be seen how INEC will respond to the ultimatum.
Key points
- Pantami gave INEC until October 14, 2026, to publish his name as the PDP governorship candidate for Gombe State.
- Pantami's lawyers argued that only a court could remove a duly nominated candidate.
- The PDP conducted a fresh primary on September 29, 2026, which Pantami won with 2,054 votes.
