Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has reacted to his exclusion from the final list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election, describing the development as a temporary challenge in the electoral process.
INEC released the final list of governorship candidates on Saturday, October 10, 2026, but Pantami, who emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate following a court-ordered fresh primary election, was conspicuously absent from the list.
Pantami, who resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May before defecting to the PDP, addressed the development through a statement issued by his camp and shared on his personal social media handles.
The statement, signed by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe and dated October 10, 2026, acknowledged the concerns raised by supporters of the PDP and the Pantamiyya Movement across Gombe State and beyond over the non-publication of the former minister’s name.
The statement explained that Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate in a fresh primary election conducted on September 29, 2026, following an order of the Federal High Court in Gombe.
It assured supporters that the omission should not be interpreted as a final determination of his political fate, urging them to remain calm, steadfast and hopeful while efforts were being made to address the situation.
“This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah,” the statement said.
The statement also alleged that some individuals were working behind the scenes to frustrate what it described as the emergence of good and responsible leadership in Gombe State.
According to Pantami’s camp, its legal and liaison teams were already engaging with the relevant organs of the PDP and INEC to ensure compliance with the court order and secure the correction of the omission within the period allowed by law.
The team expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved successfully, adding that the ongoing engagements were aimed at ensuring that the electoral process reflected the outcome of the fresh primary election conducted in compliance with the court’s directive.
Pantami’s camp further appealed to supporters to sustain their mobilisation efforts and remain committed to what it described as the movement’s collective ideology of service to humanity.
It maintained that the PDP and the Pantamiyya Movement remained united and committed to the political aspirations of their supporters, despite the latest development.
“No distraction will derail our course, in sha Allah,” the statement added.
The statement concluded with prayers for the peace and progress of Gombe State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while reiterating the camp’s optimism that the issue would be resolved.
Pantami’s exclusion comes amid legal disputes surrounding the PDP governorship ticket in Gombe State. The Federal High Court had, on September 24, 2026, nullified his earlier emergence as the party’s candidate and ordered a fresh primary election within 30 days. Pantami subsequently won the rerun primary held on September 29, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
INEC’s final list contained 16 governorship candidates for the February 6, 2027 election in Gombe State, but did not include a candidate for the PDP. The commission’s published list did not provide an explanation for the party’s absence or Pantami’s exclusion.
The development has raised questions about the implications of the omission for the PDP’s participation in the forthcoming governorship election, with further clarification from the relevant authorities expected to determine the next steps.
For now, Pantami’s camp has urged supporters to remain hopeful as its legal and liaison teams continue engagements with the party and INEC to resolve the matter within the legally permitted timeframe.
