Pantami’s Camp Reacts As Group Accuses INEC Of Contradiction Over Candidates’ Exclusion

A criminal consultant of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami’s camp, Barrister Attahir Ibrahim, has accused the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) of contradicting itself over the exclusion of the previous minister from the record of applicants for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.

Ibrahim used to be reacting to issues raised by means of the Nationwide Affiliation of Achievers Motion (NAAM), which known as on INEC to give an explanation for the exclusion of Pantami and different applicants along the inclusion of aspirants whose nomination cases have additionally attracted questions.

LEADERSHIP experiences that Pantami emerged because the Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) governorship candidate in a recent number one carried out after previous litigation over the birthday party’s nomination procedure. Alternatively, his title used to be overlooked from INEC’s ultimate record of applicants for the 2027 election.

In his reaction, Ibrahim argued that INEC’s cause of the omission of Pantami raised additional questions, in particular in regards to the timeline of the fee’s candidate record and the Ideal Court docket judgment on birthday party club registers and nomination procedures.

“My easy opinion is that the placement of INEC is self-contradictory,” he informed LEADERSHIP.

The legal professional argued that the fee had revealed the names of applicants whose cases have been very similar to Pantami’s, in addition to that of a candidate he mentioned have been disqualified by means of a courtroom of competent jurisdiction.

Consistent with Ibrahim, INEC, in responding to the talk, maintained that the record have been compiled on September 12, 2026, earlier than the Ideal Court docket delivered its judgment on September 24.

He puzzled how an inventory ready earlier than the judgment may well be regarded as compliant with the courtroom’s ruling.

“Then how can an inventory compiled on 12/09/2026 be mentioned to be in compliance with the judgment of the Ideal Court docket delivered on 24/09/2026?” he requested.

“I NEC merely ran clear of one contradiction and fell into some other. It’s unhappy! However they may be able to do injury regulate,” Ibrahim added.

The debate follows a press Convention by means of NAAM on October 21 in Gombe, through which the gang prompt INEC to supply transparent criminal and factual explanations for the exclusion of Pantami in Gombe, Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in Kano State.

The gang additionally sought explanation at the inclusion of Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Celebration in Bauchi State, former Inspector-Basic of Police Mohammed Adamu of the Social Democratic Celebration in Nasarawa State and Kingsley Chinda of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.

NAAM mentioned it used to be no longer calling for the automated reinstatement of excluded applicants or the disqualification of the ones whose names gave the impression at the record, however for transparency, due procedure and constant utility of the Electoral Act 2026.

The gang prompt INEC to give an explanation for any variations within the criminal cases of the applicants and to take corrective motion the place an administrative error or illegal resolution is established.