The Independent National Electoral Commission has excluded former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Gombe State.
Pantami’s name, which featured in the provisional list published by the commission on August 29, was absent from the final list containing 16 cleared candidates.
The reason for the omission was not stated in the report announcing the development.
Among the candidates listed for the election are Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Others include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party, Lamela L. Silas of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party.
The development comes amid a similar situation in Ogun State, where the names of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and his running mate were also reportedly missing from INEC’s final list for the state’s governorship election.
The commission has yet to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the omissions, according to the report.
INEC is responsible for publishing the official list of candidates cleared to contest elections in Nigeria.
