INEC drops Pantami from final list of Gombe governorship candidates

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has dropped the name of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, from the final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State.

Pantami, who appeared on the provisional list published on August 29, is conspicuously missing from the final list published in Saturday night.

He emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate after dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 19.

Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki, one of the aspirants who sought the PDP ticket, challenged Pantami’s victory in court.

A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified the election and ordered a fresh primary, which Pantami won again.

His biggest obstacle, however, was the September 24 Supreme Court judgement, which restored Sections 77(5), (6), (7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The provisions bar parties from fielding candidates whose names were not in the membership register submitted to INEC within the stipulated time.

A total of 16 candidates were cleared to contest the February 6, 2027 governorship election in the state.

They include Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the APC and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Others are Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party, Lamela L. Silas of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Uncertainty had trailed Pantami’s participation in the election. Mohammed Haruna, an INEC National Commissioner, had hinted on Trust TV’s Daily Politics that, in line with the Supreme Court ruling, some parties would not field candidates in 2027.

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