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Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, is demanding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) include his name on the final list of candidates for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election after the commission omitted him and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the published list.
Pantami’s legal team has given INEC until Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to publish his name as the PDP’s governorship candidate, warning that further legal action could follow if the commission fails to comply.
The dispute has raised fresh questions about the handling of party nominations, the effect of court orders on election preparations and the position of opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 polls. Premium Times reported the ultimatum on October 12.
Why Did INEC Omit Pantami’s Name?
INEC published its final list of candidates for the 2027 Gombe governorship election on October 10, listing 16 candidates but leaving out Pantami and his running mate. The list also contains no PDP candidate for the state.
The commission did not state in the published document why Pantami’s name was omitted. As a result, the reason for the decision remains unclear from the list itself.
Pantami emerged as the PDP’s candidate in a fresh governorship primary conducted on September 29, following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the party’s earlier primary held on May 26.
The court had directed the PDP to conduct a fresh exercise within 30 days, allowing eligible aspirants whose screening clearance remained valid to participate.
Pantami’s legal team maintains that the party complied with the order and that he won the rerun primary, after which his name was resubmitted to INEC. Premium Times previously reported his exclusion from the final list.
What Pantami’s Lawyers Are Demanding
In a letter dated October 12 and addressed to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, the legal team argued that the commission had no legal basis to omit a duly nominated candidate without a judicial order authorising the removal.
The letter was signed by senior lawyers, including Ahmed Raji, SAN, A.T. Kehinde, SAN, Abdul Mohammed, Wale Balogun and Tunde Falola.
According to the lawyers, the earlier court proceedings addressed challenges to Pantami’s party membership and eligibility. They argued that although the court nullified the May primary because of procedural issues, it ordered a fresh primary rather than permanently disqualifying Pantami from contesting.
The lawyers also said INEC officials monitored the September 29 rerun and that the PDP submitted Pantami’s nomination after he emerged victorious.
They therefore asked the commission to publish his name with the same prominence as the other candidates on or before October 14.
Their position represents the legal argument advanced by Pantami and the PDP. INEC’s explanation for the omission, and any formal response to the demand, will be important in determining the next stage of the dispute.
How the Court Ruling Led to a Fresh Primary
The controversy dates back to the PDP’s original governorship primary in Gombe State on May 26.
The outcome was challenged in two cases before the Federal High Court in Gombe. In judgments delivered on September 24, the court nullified the primary on grounds relating to the conduct of the exercise and directed the party to organise another one within 30 days.
The court’s order required the PDP to comply with the Electoral Act, its constitution and its electoral guidelines.
The party subsequently held the fresh primary on September 29, with Pantami emerging as its candidate again.
His legal team argues that the fresh exercise addressed the procedural problem identified by the court. It contends that the earlier ruling should not be treated as a blanket disqualification of Pantami.
The dispute now centres on the effect of that fresh primary and why the PDP’s nominee was not included in INEC’s final list.
PDP Calls for Calm as Talks Continue
The PDP has appealed to affected candidates, party members and supporters to remain calm while discussions with INEC continue.
The party’s national publicity secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said efforts were underway to address the omissions affecting its candidates.
Pantami’s case is not the only one attracting attention. INEC’s final list also omitted Ladi Adebutu, the PDP’s governorship nominee in Ogun State.
The two cases have raised broader concerns within the opposition party about how its nominations have been reflected in the commission’s published candidate lists.
However, the circumstances surrounding each omission should be assessed separately, rather than assuming that the same explanation applies to both states.
What Happens If INEC Misses the Deadline?
Pantami’s legal team has warned that it may pursue further legal remedies if INEC does not publish his name by October 14.
The immediate developments to watch are whether the commission issues an explanation, revises the Gombe candidate list or responds formally to the lawyers’ demand.
Any subsequent court action could also influence the dispute, depending on the relief sought and the court’s decision.
For now, Pantami’s exclusion does not by itself establish that he has been permanently disqualified from the election. Equally, his victory in the rerun primary does not automatically resolve every question surrounding the publication of his candidacy.
The next steps by INEC, the PDP and the courts will determine how the matter proceeds.
Why the Dispute Matters for the 2027 Election
The controversy highlights the importance of clear communication between political parties, candidates and the electoral commission during the nomination process.
For voters in Gombe State, the final list determines which candidates are officially presented by INEC for the election. Any unresolved dispute involving a major party’s nominee could affect campaign planning and public understanding of the contest.
The case also underscores the need to distinguish between a party primary, a court ruling on that primary and INEC’s final publication of candidates. These are related but separate stages of the electoral process.
With Pantami’s deadline approaching, attention is now on whether INEC will clarify the omission and what steps the affected parties will take next.
WeGoTalk will continue to monitor the dispute and report confirmed developments concerning Pantami’s candidacy and INEC’s final list for the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
