In a strongly worded letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of INEC, Pantami through his lawyers, Ahmed Raji & Co, accused the commission of unlawfully excluding his name from the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
The letter, signed by lead counsel Ahmed Raji, SAN, said Pantami emerged as the duly nominated candidate of the PDP after winning a fresh primary election conducted on September 29, 2026.
According to the petition, Pantami, who is a registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward in Gombe State, had purchased the party's Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, was duly screened and cleared, and went ahead to win the initial primary held on May 26, 2026.
The law firm stated that following his victory, the PDP submitted his personal particulars, Form EC9, to INEC on August 8, 2026, and the commission subsequently published his name on August 29, 2026, in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
It added that the May 26 primary was later challenged in two separate suits filed at the Federal High Court, Gombe Division, where the plaintiffs questioned Pantami's membership of the PDP.
Raji explained that the court, in its judgments delivered on September 24, 2026, settled the membership dispute in favour of Pantami.
"In the second suit, the court also held that the non-appearance of Pantami's name in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership. Membership of a political party is ordinarily a matter within the domestic affairs of the party," the letter quoted.
The letter further noted that although the court nullified the May 26 primary on issues relating to its conduct, it ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days, allowing all aspirants cleared on May 14, 2026, to participate.
The lawyers said the PDP complied with the court order, duly notified INEC, and conducted the fresh primary on September 29, 2026, which was monitored by officials of the electoral body, with Pantami again emerging as winner.
The petition therefore faulted INEC for omitting Pantami's name from the final list of governorship candidates published on October 10, 2026, without assigning any reason.
"We have our Client's firm and unequivocal instructions to demand that the Commission, on or before Wednesday, October 14, publish and circulate the name of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP for the office of Governor of Gombe State," the letter stated.
The firm urged the commission to take immediate corrective steps and to confirm in writing the actions taken to remedy the omission.
