Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a three-day ultimatum to incorporate his identify within the remaining checklist of candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
Pantami, by means of his solicitors, Ahmed Raji & Co., accused the fee of unlawfully omitting his identify from the checklist printed on October 10, 2026, regardless of his emergence because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in a recent major election.
In a letter dated October 12, 2026, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, the regulation agency demanded that the fee publish Pantami’s identify because the PDP governorship candidate inside three days.
The lead counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, stated Pantami emerged victorious within the recent major carried out by the get together on September 29, 2026, following a courtroom order directing the PDP to conduct one other train.
According to the letter, Pantami, a registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward in Gombe State, bought the get together’s Expression of Interest and Nomination varieties, underwent screening and was cleared to contest.
The attorneys said that he initially gained the get together’s governorship major held on May 26, 2026, after which the PDP submitted his private particulars, together with Form EC9, to INEC on August 8, 2026.
The fee subsequently printed his identify on August 29, 2026, in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the letter added.
However, the preliminary major was challenged in two fits instituted on the Federal High Court in Gombe, with the plaintiffs questioning Pantami’s membership of the get together.
Raji stated the courtroom, in judgments delivered on September 24, 2026, resolved the membership situation in Pantami’s favour.
“In the second swimsuit, the courtroom additionally held that the non-appearance of Pantami’s identify in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership.
Membership of a political get together is ordinarily a matter inside the home affairs of the get together,” a part of the letter said.
The attorneys defined that though the courtroom nullified the May 26 major over points referring to its conduct, it directed the PDP to organise a recent train inside 30 days.
The order, in line with the letter, required the get together to present all aspirants cleared on May 14, 2026, the chance to take part within the recent major.
The regulation agency maintained that the PDP complied with the directive, notified INEC and carried out the brand new major on September 29, 2026, below the fee’s monitoring.
Pantami was once more declared the winner of the train, it stated.
The attorneys consequently faulted INEC for excluding his identify from the ultimate checklist of governorship candidates printed on October 10, 2026, with out offering any rationalization for the choice.
Demanding quick motion, the agency stated its shopper had instructed it to formally request the fee to right the omission earlier than the deadline.
“We have our Client’s firm and unequivocal instructions to demand that the Commission, on or before Wednesday, October 14, publish and circulate the name of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDPà for the office of Governor of Gombe State,” the letter said.
The attorneys urged INEC to take quick steps to deal with the matter and supply written affirmation of the actions taken to resolve the criticism.
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