The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, from the final list of candidates for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election, prompting a response from his campaign.
Pantami, who emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate after a court-ordered rerun primary on September 29, was absent from the final list of 16 cleared candidates published by INEC on Saturday. The entire PDP was missing from the Gombe list .
The omission followed a turbulent legal battle over the party's nomination process. The Federal High Court in Gombe had nullified Pantami's initial primary victory on September 24 and ordered a fresh election within 30 days, which Pantami subsequently won . However, his candidacy faced a further obstacle from a September 24 Supreme Court judgment restoring provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that bar parties from fielding candidates whose names were not in the membership register submitted to INEC within the stipulated time .
'Temporary Challenge'
In a statement issued on his behalf by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe and shared on his verified social media handles, Pantami urged supporters to remain calm, describing the development as a temporary setback rather than a final determination .
"We wish to assure all our supporters to remain calm, steadfast and hopeful. This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah," the statement read .
The statement alleged that unnamed individuals were "working behind the scenes to frustrate good and responsible leadership in Gombe State," but said legal and liaison teams were already engaging with party organs and INEC to secure rectification within the window provided by law .
"We urge our supporters to continue their mobilisation and remain focused on our collective ideology of service to humanity. The PDP and Pantamiyya Movement remain strong, united and committed to the rescue and emancipation of our people," the statement added .
INEC Provides No Explanation
The final list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 16 candidates but includes no PDP representative. The remarks column for all entries is blank, offering no explanation for the omission .
Among those cleared are Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). Others include Zubairu Mu'azu Halilu of the Labour Party, Lamela L. Silas of the APM, Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the PRP, and Adamu Mohammed Ma'aji of the SDP .
INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, had said last week that parties failing to comply with membership-register requirements would not be allowed to field affected candidates or substitute them .
Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, parties have 14 days to notify INEC in writing, accompanied by an affidavit, if a nominated candidate's name is missing .
The PDP's absence from the Gombe list mirrors a similar omission in Ogun State, where the party's governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, was also excluded from the final list .
Tags:
Politics