Lawyers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to publish his name on the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.…...
Lawyers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to publish his name on the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
The legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji, made the demand in a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, following the omission of Ibrahim’s name from the list published on October 10.
The lawyers described the omission as “unlawful and unexplained”, insisting that their client emerged as the party’s candidate in a fresh governorship primary conducted in compliance with court orders.
In the letter jointly signed by Raji, A.T. Kehinde, Abdul Mohammed, Wale Balogun and Chief Tunde Falola, the legal team urged INEC to publish Ibrahim’s name alongside those of other candidates on or before Wednesday, October 14.
The lawyers said Pantami was a registered member of the PDP in Pantami Ward, Gombe State, and had participated in the party’s governorship primary held on May 26, 2026, before emerging as the winner.
READ ALSO: Gombe PDP Picks Sept. 29 For Fresh Gov. primary, Clears Pantami, Two Others
They explained that the PDP submitted his personal particulars to INEC on August 8, after which the commission published his name on August 29, adding that no objection had been raised by the electoral body at that stage.
The letter stated that the May 26 primary was subsequently challenged in two separate suits before the Federal High Court in Gombe, namely Suit Nos. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 and FHC/GM/CS/10/2026.
According to the lawyers, although the court nullified the primary over issues relating to its conduct, it resolved the questions concerning Ibrahim’s party membership and eligibility against the plaintiffs.
Quoting the judgment in Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026, the legal team said the court held: “I therefore find that the Plaintiff has not established that the 3rd Defendant was legally incapable of being recognised by the 1st Defendant as its member.”
On the second suit, the lawyers cited the court as stating: “As to PDP membership, even though the 2nd Defendant’s name does not appear in Exhibit A, that fact alone is not conclusive of his non-membership.”
They added that the court recognised the party’s authority to determine its membership and noted that the PDP had produced a membership card and register containing Pantami’s name.
Read Also
The lawyers said the court, in its September 24 judgments, directed the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 30 days in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026, the party’s constitution and its electoral guidelines.
They further stated that the court restricted its consequential orders to nominations arising from the May 26 exercise.
“In compliance with the Court Order, the PDP gave the Commission due notice of the court-ordered primary, and conducted the fresh gubernatorial primary election on Tuesday, the 29th day of September, 2026,” the letter stated.
The legal team said INEC officials attended, observed and monitored the fresh primary, adding that the commission had custody of the monitoring report.
They maintained that Ibrahim emerged as the winner of the September 29 exercise and was subsequently submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
Citing previous judicial decisions, including Dingyadi & Anor v. INEC & Ors (2011), Raymond v. INEC & Ors (2023) and AC & Anor v. INEC (2007), the lawyers argued that INEC could not independently remove a nominated candidate’s name without a judicial basis.
They said the commission’s responsibility in party primaries was to observe, monitor and report the process, rather than disqualify candidates.
“It is settled law, binding on the Commission, that the removal of a nominated candidate’s name is exclusively a judicial act,” the letter stated.
The lawyers urged INEC to correct the omission and confirm in writing the steps taken to resolve the matter.
“We trust that the Commission, as an impartial electoral umpire committed to the rule of law and compliance with judicial orders, will take immediate corrective action and confirm in writing the steps taken to resolve this matter,” they added.