The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has spoken out after its Gombe State governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, was omitted from the final list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Sunday, October 11, 2026, the party said it was engaging with INEC to resolve the omission of some of its candidates and urged affected candidates, party members and supporters to remain calm while discussions continued.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the party was treating the matter seriously and seeking a resolution in line with the law and electoral guidelines.
The omission affects not only Pantami in Gombe State but also the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu. Neither candidate nor their running mate appeared on INEC’s published list for their respective states.
Why Was Pantami’s Name Omitted?
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate following a fresh primary election held on September 29, 2026.
The exercise followed a Federal High Court ruling that nullified his earlier emergence as the party’s candidate over procedural issues and ordered a fresh primary.
Pantami won the repeat exercise, which the PDP said was monitored by INEC officials. However, when the electoral commission published its final list on October 10, his name was missing.
INEC has not publicly stated why Pantami was omitted from the list.
The party said it was engaging with the electoral commission to address the omissions and urged supporters to exercise patience while the process continued.
Pantami’s camp has also appealed for calm, describing the situation as a challenge that could still be resolved through the appropriate legal and electoral procedures.
On October 12, Pantami’s lawyers issued INEC a three-day ultimatum, demanding that his name be published by October 14. They described the omission as unlawful and unexplained and warned that further legal action could follow if the commission failed to comply. These are the lawyers’ claims; INEC’s explanation remains outstanding.
Pantami’s situation highlights an important distinction in electoral politics: emerging as a party’s candidate and appearing on the electoral commission’s final list are two different stages of the process.
A candidate may win a primary, but disputes over the conduct of that primary, membership requirements or compliance with electoral rules can still affect the path to the ballot.
In Pantami’s case, the PDP says it has complied with the court’s directive by conducting a fresh primary. The unresolved question is why his name is absent from INEC’s final list and what the commission requires before the matter can be settled.
Until INEC clarifies its position and the dispute is resolved, Pantami’s omission remains an important issue in the build-up to the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
Jaiyeorie asks: If a candidate wins a court-ordered party primary but is missing from the electoral commission’s final list, what should voters look at first—the party’s claim of compliance, the court proceedings or INEC’s explanation?
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