PDP lawyers demand INEC publish Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami’s name

Lawyers representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Gombe State governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have issued a three-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ahmed Raji, demands that the commission publish Pantami’s name on the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

The lawyers characterized the omission of Pantami’s name from the list published on October 10, 2026, as “unlawful and unexplained.” They asserted that Pantami is a duly registered member of the PDP in Pantami Ward, Gombe State, and successfully completed the party’s nomination process, including purchasing required forms and winning the governorship primary on May 26, 2026.

According to the legal demand, the PDP submitted Pantami’s personal particulars to INEC on August 8, 2026, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026. The lawyers noted that INEC had previously published his name on August 29 without objection. The candidacy had faced legal challenges in the Federal High Court in Gombe, where plaintiffs questioned Pantami’s membership status, but the legal team maintains his eligibility and right to the same prominence as other candidates.