Lawyers representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Gombe State governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to include his name in the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
The legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ahmed Raji, made the demand in a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman.
The lawyers challenged the exclusion of Pantami’s name from the final list published by the electoral commission on October 10.
They argued that the decision was unjustified, particularly after the PDP conducted a fresh governorship primary in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The lawyers demanded that INEC publish Pantami’s name with the same prominence as those of other candidates.
They also asked the commission to confirm in writing the steps taken to address the matter.
In the letter, the legal team maintained that Pantami had fulfilled the requirements for party membership and nomination.
They said he was a registered PDP member in Pantami Ward, Gombe State, and had submitted the required documents before participating in the party’s governorship primary.
“Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim is a duly registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward, Gombe State. He duly submitted the updated PDP membership register (containing his name) to the Commission (see Annexure A hereto). He purchased the PDP Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the gubernatorial primary.”
The lawyers further explained that Pantami participated in the party’s screening process and emerged as its governorship candidate on May 26, 2026.
According to them, the PDP subsequently submitted his personal particulars to INEC on August 8, in line with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
They added that the commission published his name on August 29 without raising any objection to his membership or emergence as the party’s candidate at the time.
However, the May 26 primary was challenged in two separate cases before the Federal High Court in Gombe.
The suits, FHC/GM/CS/9/2026, between Usman Aliyu (Garry) and others, and FHC/GM/CS/10/2026, between Khamisu Ahmed and others, questioned aspects of the primary and Pantami’s eligibility.
According to the PDP lawyers, the plaintiffs argued that Pantami was not eligible to contest because his name was allegedly missing from the party membership register submitted to INEC.
The legal team said the court considered the questions relating to Pantami’s membership and eligibility but did not rule that he was disqualified from being recognised as a PDP member or as a governorship candidate.
They cited the judgments delivered on September 24, 2026, noting that the court nullified the May 26 primary because of issues concerning the conduct of the exercise.
The court also directed the PDP to organise another primary within 30 days.
The lawyers stressed that the orders did not prohibit Pantami from contesting a fresh primary.
Rather, they said, the court directed the party to provide the plaintiff and other aspirants whose screening clearance remained valid an opportunity to participate.
The legal team stated that the court restrained the PDP and INEC from recognising or giving effect to a nomination arising from the May 26 exercise.
They argued that the order did not prevent the party from conducting a fresh primary and submitting a new candidate in compliance with the judgment.
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