INEC Excludes Pantami from Gombe Governorship Race

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded Professor Isa Pantami from its final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State. This decision comes despite the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conducting a fresh primary in which Pantami emerged as its flagbearer.

His name was absent from the list published by INEC, indicating that the commission does not recognize his candidacy as valid under current electoral law. INEC's decision is grounded in the Supreme Court's ruling in INEC v.

Zenith Labour Party, which upheld Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022. This ruling requires parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before any primary, congress, or convention.

The court affirmed that only members listed in a duly submitted register are eligible to participate in internal party exercises. Consequently, Pantami's exclusion effectively bars him from contesting the governorship election under the PDP platform unless he successfully challenges this matter in court.