Pantami’s name Missing As INEC Releases Final List of Gombe Guber Candidates

The name of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, is conspicuously missing from the final list of governorship candidates in Gombe State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the list in line with the promise of Prof Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the commission, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, earlier in the week.

According to the list, a total of 16 candidates were cleared to contest the February 6, 2027 governorship election in the state.

The list shows 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).

Other candidates on the final list include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party, Lamela L. Silas of the APM, Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the PRP and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the SDP among others.

However, Pantami, who was on the provisional list published on August 29, was missing in the new list.

He had earlier emerged as PDP candidate after dumping APC on May 19. But Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki, one of the aspirants who sought the PDP ticket, challenged Pantami’s victory in court.

A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe had nullified the election and ordered a fresh primary election, which he won again.

But his biggest obstacle was the September 24 Supreme Court judgement which restored Sections 77(5), (6), (7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, barring parties from fielding candidates whose names were not in the membership register submitted to INEC within the stipulated time.

While uncertainty trailed his participation in the election, Mohammed Haruna, an INEC National Commissioner, had hinted that in line with the Supreme Court ruling, some parties would not field candidates in 2027.

He said this when he featured on Trust TV’s Daily Politics.