The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published a final list of 16 candidates for the Gombe governorship race, according to multiple reports. However, the name of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a fresh primary election in September, after a court voided his earlier nomination, is missing from the list.
The development has sparked concerns among PDP supporters and raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Gombe State. It is unclear why Pantami’s name was omitted from the list, and neither INEC nor the PDP has issued a statement on the matter as of press time.
The governorship election in Gombe State is scheduled to hold on February 6, 2027. The final list of candidates for the election includes candidates from various political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), among others.
The exclusion of Pantami from the list comes amidst a growing trend of political parties fielding controversial candidates in the run-up to the 2027 general elections. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the political landscape in Gombe State and the larger Nigerian political sphere.
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