Pantami's Lawyers Press Nigeria's Electoral Body Over Gombe Ballot Listing
Lawyers for Isa Ali Pantami told Nigeria's electoral commission to restore his name to the Gombe governorship candidate list by 14 October. The commission's final list, released on 10 October, omitted him and his party without a public explanation. A court had annulled his first primary and ordered a rerun, which he won, as Nigeria prepares for presidential and gubernatorial elections in early 2027.
Pantami, a former communications minister, is the PDP's gubernatorial candidate in Gombe State. INEC's final list for that race, issued on 10 October, contained 16 governorship contenders but no PDP entry, leaving the party without a listed candidate.
His legal team, led by Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wrote to INEC chairman Joash Amupitan on 12 October. It seeks publication of Pantami's name by 14 October. A Federal High Court in Gombe had voided his initial primary on 24 September and ordered a rerun, which he won on 29 September.
The dispute may affect Gombe voters, who could face an unclear choice if the PDP remains absent from the ballot. It could also shape public confidence in INEC's handling of party primaries and court orders, especially before the 2027 presidential and gubernatorial votes. Pantami's supporters and rival campaigns may prepare for further legal or administrative steps, while the commission's response could influence how parties and courts interact over candidate lists.