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Pantami’s Name Missing As INEC Releases Final List Of Gombe Gov Candidates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, from its final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State ahead of the February 6, 2027 election.
Politics Nigeria reports that the commission released a list of 16 cleared candidates for the election, but Pantami’s name was missing despite his earlier inclusion in the provisional list published on August 29.
Among the candidates on the final list 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).
Others include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party (LP), 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).
Pantami’s exclusion comes amid a series of legal disputes over his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.
The former minister had initially sought the APC governorship ticket but left the party after it settled for Gwamna as its consensus candidate. He subsequently joined the PDP and emerged as the party’s flag bearer through voice affirmation at its governorship primary.
However, a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified his initial emergence on May 26, following a challenge to the primary process.
The court ordered a fresh primary election, which Pantami won on September 29 with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the required primary election was not properly conducted before the former minister was declared the party’s candidate.
Despite winning the court-ordered rerun, Pantami’s eligibility remained in doubt following the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and candidate eligibility.
The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
The provisions bar political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period.
INEC has maintained that parties found to have violated the requirements will not be permitted to participate in the elections through candidates whose nominations breach the law.
Mohammed Haruna, an INEC national commissioner in charge of information and voter education, said the commission would not allow parties to replace candidates affected by the provisions.
Haruna made the clarification during an appearance on Trust TV’s programme on Wednesday evening, explaining that allowing substitutions would enable political parties to benefit from their own violations.
He cited previous disputes involving Zamfara and Plateau states to illustrate the consequences of parties failing to comply with electoral requirements.
“It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it,” Haruna said.
He added that allowing parties to substitute candidates in such circumstances would amount to permitting them to benefit from an offence they had committed.
Haruna also indicated that the commission expected to make a definite pronouncement on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment by the following Tuesday.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has blasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu over attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore and the governorship candidate of the ADC in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan'iya.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Saturday, Atiku said the attacks were troubling.
"The simultaneous attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, and the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, are deeply troubling and unacceptable," Atiku wrote.
The former Vice President described the attacks as a dangerous threat to democracy and an attempt to silence opposition voices under the Tinubu administration.
He accused the Federal Government of creating an atmosphere where opposition candidates are no longer safe, warning that Nigeria is drifting towards dictatorship.
"This is not how democracy works. No Nigerian should be attacked for daring to contest against those in power. If opposition is under attack, then democracy itself is under attack," Atiku added.
Atiku called on security agencies to immediately fish out those behind the attacks and ensure they face justice, while urging President Bola Tinubu to call his supporters to order.
‘Nigeria drifting to dictatorship’ – Atiku condemns attacks on Sowore, ADC candidate
Nigeria and Russia have agreed to replace a 59-year-old aviation agreement, aiming to update air transport relations and create opportunities for stronger connectivity between the two countries.
The agreement to renegotiate the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which dates back to 1967, was reached during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Russian officials on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Mr Keyamo disclosed the development in a post on his X account on Friday, saying both countries had agreed to complete negotiations within six months and sign a new agreement in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in April 2027.
He said the Nigerian delegation met with Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev, the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation.
“We resolved to renegotiate our last Bilateral Air Service Agreement that was made in 1967. We set a timeline of six months to conclude the negotiations and sign a new one in Saint Petersburg in April 2027,” Mr Keyamo said.
He added that both countries had formed negotiating teams to begin work toward an agreement within the agreed period.
The proposed renegotiation is expected to update the framework governing air transport between Nigeria and Russia, reflecting changes in the international aviation industry over the past six decades.
What the agreement means
A Bilateral Air Services Agreement provides the legal framework for scheduled air services between two countries. It generally sets out the conditions under which airlines from both countries can operate international flights, including routes, traffic rights, designated airlines and other operational arrangements.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development says its Air Transport Management Department negotiates and reviews new and existing air services agreements and monitors their implementation.
The ministry also works with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other aviation agencies to facilitate international air links and regulate airline operations.
The proposed replacement of the Nigeria-Russia agreement could therefore create opportunities for improved air connectivity and cooperation between their aviation sectors.
However, neither Mr Keyamo nor the ministry disclosed proposed flight routes, designated airlines or the frequency of possible operations under the new agreement.
Wider cooperation
Beyond the aviation agreement, Mr Keyamo said the meeting also examined other areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Russia.
He said both sides had resolved to explore additional opportunities in the coming months.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt: Chris Najomo, and the Registrar of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Dr Danjuma Adamu Ismaila.
Directors from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the NCAA also participated in the discussions.
ALSO READ: Nigeria sends low-level delegation to Russia-Africa summit
Nigeria and Russia have maintained diplomatic relations since shortly after Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Their relationship has included cooperation in areas such as defence, trade, science and technology.
According to the Nigerian Embassy in Russia, the Soviet Union provided political and military assistance to Nigeria during the 1967–1970 Civil War. Cooperation between the two countries has also extended to space technology, including the launch of Nigeria’s satellites aboard Russian rockets in 2011.
The planned aviation agreement is expected to form part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral relations and identify further areas of cooperation.
Both countries are expected to begin negotiations through their respective teams, aiming to conclude the process and sign the new agreement in Saint Petersburg in April 2027.
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