INEC Omits Pantami from Final List of Gombe Governorship Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, from its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Gombe State.

The commission released the final list containing 16 cleared candidates, but Pantami’s name was missing despite appearing on the provisional list published on August 29, 2026.

The reason for the omission was not stated in the information released alongside the final list.

The development follows a similar situation in Ogun State, where the names of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu and his running mate were also absent from INEC’s final list for the state’s governorship election.

Among the candidates listed to contest the Gombe governorship 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).

Other candidates cleared by the commission 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 (SDP).

The omission of Pantami’s name has raised questions about his participation in the forthcoming election, although further details surrounding the development were not provided in the announcement.