INEC Under Fire as Isa Pantami Challenges Exclusion From 2027 Gombe Governorship List

ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing renewed scrutiny following the exclusion of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, from its final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 general elections. The development has sparked fresh questions about the management of party primaries, the interpretation of electoral laws and the procedures used to determine which candidates qualify to contest elections in Nigeria. According to a report by Channels Television published on Tuesday, October 13, Pantami and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have given INEC until Wednesday, October 14, to include his name on the list. Pantami’s lawyers reportedly argued in a legal notice dated October 12 that the commission had no authority to exclude him after he emerged from a court-ordered rerun of the party’s governorship primary. The commission had not publicly resolved the dispute at the time of reporting. The controversy comes as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 elections, a period expected to generate considerable legal and political activity. The publication of candidates’ lists is a critical stage in the electoral process because it informs voters, parties and other stakeholders about the individuals officially recognised to contest particular positions. Any dispute involving the inclusion or exclusion of a candidate can therefore have implications for the affected party’s campaign and its preparations for the election. A separate controversy has also emerged in Edo State, where two candidates reportedly appeared under both the PDP and the Allied Peoples Movement on INEC’s final list for House of Assembly elections. According to Channels Television, INEC’s Edo office acknowledged the duplication and said the matter had been referred to the commission’s headquarters. The latest developments have renewed attention on the importance of accuracy and transparency in electoral administration. For political parties, the dispute highlights the need to ensure that nominations comply with applicable electoral laws and that disagreements are addressed within the prescribed legal framework. For INEC, the challenge is to explain its decisions clearly, correct any genuine administrative errors and ensure that its procedures are consistently applied. However, the final determination of the Pantami dispute will depend on the relevant legal provisions, the facts of the party primary and any decisions reached by the appropriate authorities. As the October 14 deadline approaches, attention is likely to remain on whether INEC responds to the demand and whether the dispute proceeds further through the legal system. The controversy adds another important development to the political manoeuvring already gathering pace ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.