By Auwal Umar, Gombe

The National Association of Achievers Movement (NAAM) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the exclusion of some governorship candidates from its final list for the 2027 general elections while clarifying the legal basis for recognising others whose nomination processes have also attracted public scrutiny.

The association specifically questioned the omission of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in Kano State.

It also called for clarification on the inclusion of Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State and Kingsley Chinda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

The NAAM National President, Prof. Bishop Fumlack Victor, who stated this while speaking with Journalists in Gombe on Wednesday, said the commission needed to demonstrate that electoral laws were being applied consistently and transparently to all political parties and candidates.

“Our concern is that INEC should demonstrate that the same applicable legal standards have been applied fairly, consistently and transparently to every political party and candidate,” Mr Victor said.

He said the contrasting decisions on the candidates had raised questions that required evidence-based explanations from the electoral commission, while acknowledging that the cases might involve different facts and legal circumstances.

“We are not calling for the arbitrary disqualification of any candidate. We are calling for transparency, equal treatment, due process and electoral justice,” the association said.

INEC had attributed the exclusion of some candidates to non-compliance with party membership-register requirements under Sections 77(5) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, according to the statement.

However, NAAM said the commission should provide specific details of the grounds for each exclusion, including whether the relevant political parties submitted their membership registers within the prescribed period and whether the affected candidates appeared in those records.

In Gombe State, the omission of Mr Pantami has attracted particular attention after he emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in a fresh primary conducted following earlier litigation over the party’s nomination process.

NAAM said his emergence from the primary did not automatically settle questions concerning compliance with other statutory requirements, but urged INEC to explain how those requirements informed its decision to omit him.

The association also requested clarification on the circumstances surrounding Mr Adebutu’s exclusion in Ogun State and Mr Gwarzo’s omission in Kano State.

It said the commission should explain whether the decisions were based solely on membership-register compliance or whether other legal and procedural considerations were involved.

The group also questioned the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of Senator Shehu Buba Umar in Bauchi, Mr Chinda in Rivers and Mr Adamu in Nasarawa.

Regarding Senator Umar, NAAM asked whether his PRP membership was properly documented, whether the party submitted its register within the stipulated period and whether his nomination complied with the applicable legal requirements.

For Rivers State, the association sought clarification on Mr Chinda’s APC membership and nomination, following public questions about the timing of his party registration, the governorship primary and his reported defection from the PDP.

In Nasarawa, it asked INEC to explain the legal and procedural basis for recognising Mr Adamu’s nomination following the reported withdrawal of an earlier SDP nominee and a subsequent substitution process.

The association stressed that raising questions about these candidates did not amount to an allegation of wrongdoing.

“We are not asking INEC to presume wrongdoing. We are asking it to explain the basis for its decisions and the evidence supporting them,” the statement said.

NAAM called on the commission to identify any material differences between the cases that could justify different outcomes, insisting that similar circumstances should be assessed under the same applicable legal standards.

It also urged INEC to take corrective action where an administrative error or unlawful decision was established, subject to applicable laws, judicial decisions and statutory timelines.

The group said it was not demanding the automatic reinstatement of Mr Pantami, Mr Adebutu or Mr Gwarzo, nor was it seeking the removal of candidates already included on the list.

“If a candidate has satisfied the applicable requirements, that candidate should be recognised in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

“If a candidate has failed to satisfy a mandatory statutory requirement, the relevant authorities should act through the lawful procedures available to them.”

NAAM further encouraged affected political parties and candidates to pursue available legal and administrative remedies within the stipulated timelines.

It said the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend partly on whether Nigerians could understand the legal basis for INEC’s decisions on candidate nominations.

“No candidate should be above the law. No eligible candidate should be unfairly excluded. No political party should be subjected to a different legal standard without a defensible basis,” the association said.

The group urged INEC to provide timely explanations of the disputed cases, saying transparency and equal treatment were essential to sustaining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

By Musa Garba

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its final list of candidates for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election, with the name of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, missing from the list.

The development raises fresh questions about Pantami’s participation in the governorship race, following the legal disputes surrounding his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Pantami had emerged as the PDP governorship candidate after a fresh primary election conducted on September 29, 2026, following a court order nullifying an earlier exercise.

His emergence, however, has remained contentious, with other aspirants challenging aspects of the primary process and his participation in the contest.

INEC’s final list is expected to provide clarity on the candidates cleared to contest the governorship election in the state. Pantami’s omission could further complicate his political ambition, depending on the reasons for his exclusion and any subsequent legal or administrative developments.

As of the release of the list, the specific reason for Pantami’s omission was not immediately clear.

The development is likely to attract further attention in Gombe’s political circles as parties and aspirants prepare for the 2027 governorship election.

By Jamila Muhammad

Ambassador Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, a co-convener of the Nigeria Forward Project, has urged ministers, presidential aides and heads of federal government agencies from Northern Nigeria to intensify grassroots mobilisation and communicate President Bola Tinubu’s achievements to citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Waiya said the appointees should move beyond Abuja and engage directly with people in their communities, explaining how the administration’s policies and reforms are improving lives and why the government deserves another term.

He made the call in a statement sent to journalists on Friday, stressing that those appointed by the president had a responsibility to bridge the gap between the government and ordinary Nigerians by providing credible information about its performance.

“There are moments in the life of a nation when those entrusted with public responsibility must rise, speak with conviction and give citizens reasons to believe that tomorrow can be better than today,” he said.

Waiya noted that some heads of federal government agencies had already begun mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election, describing themselves as “foot soldiers of the Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He also cited a recent grassroots mobilisation campaign reportedly led by Senator George Akume, which brought together political leaders from the North-Central region to rally support for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Nigeria Forward Project co-convener argued that promoting the administration’s achievements should not be reduced to routine political campaigning but should provide an opportunity to explain the practical impact of government policies on citizens.

He said Northern appointees should be better positioned to communicate the administration’s reforms, present verifiable results and demonstrate how its policies were creating opportunities, strengthening institutions, improving infrastructure and repositioning the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the engagement must extend to markets, farms, businesses, universities and rural communities, where citizens can assess government policies against their daily experiences.

Waiya stressed that the concerns and expectations of Nigerians must remain central to the campaign for another term, noting that voters would ultimately decide based on their experiences and understanding of the administration’s performance.

“The 2027 elections will ultimately belong to Nigerians. They will judge the administration by what they have seen, experienced and understood,” he said.

He urged the appointees not only to advocate continuity but also to explain why it matters, defend the government’s record with evidence and clearly communicate its plans for the country.

Waiya said the period ahead of the elections offered an opportunity for the administration’s representatives to strengthen public confidence through sustained engagement and transparent communication.

“This is the time to take the Renewed Hope message, its achievements and vision to the people and convince Nigerians that the journey deserves another mandate,” he said.

He added that the administration needed to make its message tangible to citizens rather than allowing it to remain a political slogan.

“Renewed Hope must not remain a government slogan. It must become a story Nigerians can see and feel,” Waiya said.