Omission from Guber Candidates’ List: Pantami Lawyers Give INEC 3-Day Ultimatum
A legal team representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to publish Ibrahim’s name as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.
The lawyers, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ahmed Raji, made the demand in a letter dated October 12, 2026, following the omission of Ibrahim’s name from INEC’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections published on October 10.
The legal team described the omission as “unlawful and unexplained,” insisting that Ibrahim was duly nominated by the PDP following a fresh governorship primary conducted in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The letter, addressed to the INEC Chairman at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, demanded that the electoral body publish and circulate Ibrahim’s name as the PDP candidate for Gombe State governor on or before October 14.
According to the lawyers, Ibrahim, a registered PDP member from Pantami Ward in Gombe State, initially emerged as the party’s governorship candidate at a primary election held on May 26, 2026.
They said his membership details were contained in the party’s updated register submitted to INEC, adding that he purchased the nomination forms, underwent screening and clearance, and subsequently won the primary.
The lawyers further stated that the PDP submitted Ibrahim’s particulars to INEC on August 8, after which the commission published his name on August 29, without raising any objection to his nomination at the time.
However, the May 26 primary was subsequently challenged in two separate suits before the Federal High Court in Gombe: Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026, filed by Usman Aliyu (Garry), and Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/10/2026, filed by Khamisu Ahmed and another claimant.
The suits challenged aspects of the primary election, including Ibrahim’s eligibility on the grounds of his membership of the PDP.
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The lawyers said the court, in judgments delivered on September 24, 2026, rejected the challenges to Ibrahim’s party membership, holding that the claimants had failed to establish his ineligibility on the grounds presented.
In one of the judgments, the court reportedly held that the absence of Ibrahim’s name from a particular membership register was not, in itself, conclusive proof that he was not a party member.
The court, however, nullified the May 26 primary over issues relating to the conduct of the exercise and ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 30 days, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026, the party’s constitution and its electoral guidelines.
The order also provided for the participation of the plaintiffs and other aspirants whose clearance from the May 14 screening exercise remained valid.
In compliance with the ruling, the PDP conducted a fresh governorship primary on September 29, 2026, during which Ibrahim again emerged as the party’s candidate, according to the lawyers.
They said INEC officials attended, observed and monitored the exercise, adding that the commission’s monitoring report was in its custody.
The legal team maintained that Ibrahim’s nomination from the fresh primary was distinct from the nomination arising from the May 26 exercise that the court had nullified.
Citing previous judicial decisions, including Dingyadi & Anor v. INEC & Ors (2011), Raymond v. INEC & Ors (2023) and AC & Anor v. INEC (2007), the lawyers argued that INEC could not independently remove a nominated candidate’s name without the requisite judicial basis.
They contended that the commission’s role in party primaries was to attend, observe, monitor and report on the process, rather than independently determine a candidate’s eligibility or selectively exclude a nominee.
The lawyers urged INEC to take immediate corrective action and confirm in writing the steps taken to address the omission.
They also expressed confidence that the commission would act in accordance with the rule of law and the relevant court judgments.
INEC’s response to the demand was not contained in the letter made available to the press.
By PRNigeria
