Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to publish his name as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State for the 2027 general elections. In a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman by his solicitors, Ahmed Raji & Co., Pantami described the omission of his name from the final list of candidates published by the Commission on October 10, 2026, as unlawful and unexplained.
The letter titled : “Unlawful and Unexplained Omission of the Name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim The Nominated Candidate of the PDP From the Final List of Candidates for the Office of Governor of Gombe State for the 2027 General Elections – Demand For Immediate Publication Within Three (3) Days,” said Pantami is a duly registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward, Gombe State, and that the updated party register containing his name was submitted to the Commission.
According to the letter, Pantami purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, was screened and cleared, and participated in the PDP governorship primary in Gombe State on May 26, 2026, where he emerged winner. It stated that the PDP subsequently submitted his personal particulars (Form EC9) to INEC on August 8, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and that INEC published his name on August 29, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Act, without questioning any aspect of his emergence at the time.
The solicitors noted that the primary was challenged in two suits — Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 between Usman Aliyu (Garry) v. PDP & 2 Ors and Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/10/2026 between Khamisu Ahmed & Anor v. PDP & 2 Ors — before the Federal High Court, Gombe, where the plaintiffs contended that Pantami’s name was not in the PDP register submitted to INEC and therefore he was ineligible.
They said the issue was fully litigated and resolved in Pantami’s favour. The letter quoted page 57 of the judgment in Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 where 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. Accordingly, question two is resolved against the Plaintiff.”
It also cited pages 65-66 of the judgment in Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/10/2026 where the court resolved questions 1, 2 and 3 in favour of the plaintiffs but resolved question 4 — on Pantami’s membership and eligibility — against them. Pantami’s lawyers therefore demanded the immediate publication of his name as the PDP candidate for the Gombe governorship election within three days of receipt of the letter. “Tells INEC To Publish My Name,” the notice added.
