GOMBE, NIGERIA – A significant legal and political dispute has erupted over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s governorship candidate in Gombe State for the upcoming 2027 general elections. An aspirant, Usman Aliyu Garry, has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the party's legal capacity to nominate Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as its candidate.
Allegations of Irregularities in Party Membership
In a detailed letter addressed to Professor Joash Amupitan, the chairman of INEC, Garry, through his legal representatives, raised serious allegations concerning irregularities within the PDP's membership records and potential non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. The seven-page petition, dated October 12, 2026, and officially received by INEC on October 13, urges the commission to meticulously scrutinise the PDP’s membership register. The objective is to determine whether the party adhered to all legal requirements governing the submission of membership records and the nomination process for candidates.
Garry's lawyers have anchored their argument firmly on Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026. This section specifically mandates the submission of political parties’ membership registers to INEC within a legally prescribed timeframe. Furthermore, they cited a pivotal Supreme Court judgment in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party (suit number SC/CV/495/2026), delivered on September 24, 2026. This judgment, they argued, reinforces their position on the critical importance of compliance with electoral laws and the stipulated requirements for party membership records.
Eligibility Concerns for Professor Pantami
A central tenet of the legal team’s argument is the alleged timing of Professor Pantami’s membership in the PDP. They contend that his purported membership after the official deadline for the submission of the party’s membership register to INEC raises significant questions regarding his eligibility to participate in the party’s governorship primary election. The lawyers have urged INEC to determine whether Pantami’s name was appropriately captured in the relevant membership records prior to the deadline and whether the PDP fully complied with all applicable legal provisions when presenting him as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The petition also directs INEC’s attention to ongoing proceedings related to suit number FHC/GM/CS/09/2026. It calls upon the commission to consider all relevant legal issues during its statutory responsibilities. Specifically, INEC has been requested to examine the PDP’s digital membership register for Gombe State and verify the pertinent entries before making any definitive decision concerning the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Implications for Gombe State Politics
This petition introduces a new dimension to the already complex political and legal disputes surrounding the PDP’s governorship candidacy in Gombe State, where the outcome of the party’s nomination process has been a continuous source of contention. INEC’s forthcoming response to this petition, coupled with any subsequent legal developments, will undoubtedly prove significant in shaping the next phase of this high-stakes dispute and could profoundly impact the electoral landscape of Gombe State.