Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a 72-hour ultimatum to publish his name as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
Pantami’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ahmed Raji, made the demand in a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan. The lawyers described the omission of Pantami’s name from the commission’s final list of governorship candidates released on October 10 as unlawful and unexplained.
According to the letter, Pantami emerged as the winner of the PDP’s initial governorship primary held on May 26, 2026. However, the Federal High Court in Gombe nullified the exercise on September 24 and directed the party to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days.
The PDP subsequently held another primary on September 29, during which Pantami again emerged as its candidate. His lawyers said INEC officials monitored the exercise and that the party resubmitted his name to the commission.
The legal team argued that INEC lacked the authority to omit a duly nominated candidate without a court order, citing previous judicial decisions. It urged the commission to publish Pantami’s name with the same prominence as those of other candidates and provide written confirmation of the corrective steps taken.
The lawyers set Wednesday, October 14, as the deadline for INEC to comply, warning that further legal action could follow if the commission failed to address the matter.
Pantami’s name was among those missing from INEC’s published list of 16 candidates for the February 6, 2027 Gombe governorship election. The commission’s position on the latest demand will determine the next steps in the dispute over the PDP’s representation in the race.
