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 title within the remaining checklist of candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
Pantami, via his solicitors, Ahmed Raji & Co., accused the fee of unlawfully omitting his title from the checklist revealed on October 10, 2026, regardless of his emergence because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in a contemporary major election.
In a letter dated October 12, 2026, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, the legislation agency demanded that the fee publish Pantami’s title because the PDP governorship candidate inside three days.
The lead counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, stated Pantami emerged victorious within the contemporary major performed by the celebration on September 29, 2026, following a court docket 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 celebration’s Expression of Interest and Nomination kinds, underwent screening and was cleared to contest.
The legal professionals acknowledged that he initially gained the celebration’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 revealed his title 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 celebration.
Raji stated the court docket, in judgments delivered on September 24, 2026, resolved the membership concern in Pantami’s favour.
“In the second swimsuit, the court docket additionally held that the non-appearance of Pantami’s title in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership.
Membership of a political celebration is ordinarily a matter inside the home affairs of the celebration,” a part of the letter acknowledged.
The legal professionals defined that though the court docket nullified the May 26 major over points regarding its conduct, it directed the PDP to organise a contemporary train inside 30 days.
The order, in line with the letter, required the celebration to offer all aspirants cleared on May 14, 2026, the chance to take part within the contemporary major.
The legislation agency maintained that the PDP complied with the directive, notified INEC and performed 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 legal professionals consequently faulted INEC for excluding his title from the ultimate checklist of governorship candidates revealed on October 10, 2026, with out offering any rationalization for the choice.
Demanding fast motion, the agency stated its consumer 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 acknowledged.
The legal professionals urged INEC to take fast steps to deal with the matter and supply written affirmation of the actions taken to resolve the grievance.
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