The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, from the final list of candidates cleared to contest the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Gombe State.
Pantami, who emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate after a rerun primary, was listed in INEC’s provisional register published on August 29 but did not make the final list released by the commission.
The final list features 16 candidates representing different political parties, including Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Other candidates cleared by INEC include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party, Lamela L. Silas of the Action Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Pantami’s omission comes amid a series of legal and political challenges surrounding his bid to succeed the incumbent governor.
The former minister secured the PDP governorship ticket in a rerun primary conducted in September 2026 after a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified the party’s earlier primary election and directed it to conduct a fresh exercise.
His initial emergence as the party’s candidate followed his defection from the ruling APC on May 19. However, his victory was challenged by another aspirant, Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki, who also participated in the primary.
Following the court’s intervention, the PDP conducted another primary in September, in which Pantami again defeated other contenders to emerge as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election.
Despite his victory in the rerun, questions surrounding compliance with electoral requirements emerged following a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24 concerning provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The apex court reinstated Sections 77(5), (6), (7) and 84(2) of the Act, which address requirements relating to political parties’ membership registers submitted to INEC and the eligibility of candidates nominated by political parties.
The judgment raised concerns over the participation of some political parties and their candidates in the forthcoming elections, particularly in cases where membership records may not comply with the statutory requirements.
INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, subsequently warned that some political parties could be prevented from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections because of the implications of the Supreme Court ruling.
Haruna made the disclosure during an appearance on Trust TV, noting that the commission would implement the relevant legal provisions and comply with the apex court’s decision.
With Pantami’s name missing from the final list, the former minister is not currently recognised among the candidates cleared by INEC to contest the Gombe governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had earlier assured stakeholders that the commission would publish the final list of governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
