Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a 72-hour ultimatum to publish his name or face legal action after it was omitted from the commission’s website listing candidates for the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
Mr Pantami reportedly won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket for the 2027 election after a court voided his emergence as the party’s flag bearer.
In a letter to the INEC chairman on Monday, his lawyers, Ahmed Raji & Co., described the omission of Mr Pantami’s name from the governorship candidates’ list as unlawful.
The lawyers said the commission released the final list of candidates for the 2027 general election on Saturday, but omitted Mr Pantami’s name without giving any reason.
“Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim is a duly registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward, Gombe State.
“The updated PDP membership register (containing his name) was duly submitted to the Commission. (See Annexure A hereto).
“He purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms of the PDP for the gubernatorial primary; After screening and clearance, he participated in the governorship primary election of the PDP, Gombe State, emerging as the winner on the 26th day of May, 2026,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the party submitted Mr Pantami’s personal particulars to the commission on August 8, 2026, pursuant to Section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the commission published his name on August 29, 2026, pursuant to Section 29 (3) of the Act.
It added that the commission had taken no steps to question any aspect of his emergence.
The lawyers explained that the court had ordered the commission, upon due notice of the court’s decision, to conduct a fresh primary election on the last Tuesday of September.
“We have our client’s firm and unequivocal instructions to demand, and we hereby demand that the Commission, on or before Wednesday the 14th day of October, 2026, publish and circulate the name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the office of Governor of Gombe State”, the letter said.
The lawyers further urged the commission to take immediate corrective action and confirm in writing the steps taken to resolve the matter.
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