By our correspondent

As the 2027 election draws close,former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been left out of the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Gombe State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list after its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, promised to publish the candidates’ names during a press conference in Abuja earlier in the week.

According to the list, 16 candidates have been cleared to contest the election.

They include 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).

Other candidates are Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party, 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), among others.

Pantami’s name, however, is missing from the final list, despite appearing on the provisional list published on August 29.

Pantami had emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate after leaving the APC on May 19.

However, Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki, another aspirant who contested the PDP ticket, challenged his emergence in court.

The Federal High Court in Gombe later nullified the primary election and ordered the party to conduct a fresh one. Pantami won the rerun primary.

His participation in the 2027 election was thrown into doubt following a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24.

The judgment restored Sections 77(5), (6), (7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The provisions bar political parties from presenting candidates whose names were not included in the membership register submitted to INEC within the required period.

Amid the uncertainty over Pantami’s candidacy, Mohammed Haruna, an INEC national commissioner, had suggested that some political parties might not field candidates in the 2027 elections because of the Supreme Court ruling.

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with clarifying allegations that some of the postings and deployments recently carried out by the electoral body may have been “ethnically motivated” and given preference to officials from President Bola Tinubu’s South-West.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it is in possession of intelligence and “direct complaints” regarding recent personnel changes and redeployments in some of the Commission’s “strategic departments and stations.”

The opposition party said it has received information that several officers from nothern part of the country who had served in departments like Electoral Operations and ICT are being moved away to other departments.

“We have specific names of officers moved from Electoral Operations and ICT in a number of northern states and replaced with officers from Lagos and other South-West states. INEC may dismiss this as routine. But we have noticed a pattern, especially along ethnic lines, and we are concerned,” the party said.

ADC said that while it is not accusing INEC of any “nefarious” plans yet, it believes that any suspicion or allegation that potentially undermines trust in and the credibility of the electoral umpire must not be dismissed lightly.

“Especially if those allegations border on sectional bias that could actively undermine the neutrality of election officials and the Commission’s own impartiality,” the party said.

“Regardless of the Commission’s motives, questions about regional concentration in sensitive departments cannot be brushed aside as routine administrative matters. And concentrating strategic operational appointments in a manner that suggests ethnic or sectional bias to give an advantage to President Tinubu and the APC must not be ignored.”

The ADC urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to publish the postings, selection criteria and reasons for the changes to reassure all citizens in every part of the country that they would be treated fairly and their electoral choice would not be undermined just because they speak a different language or come from another part of the country.

“Allowing such allegations to go without a serious, evidence-based rebuttal could have serious implications for the integrity of the elections,” the party warned.

By Our Correspondent

Mr Milton Dick, Speaker of Australia’s House of Representatives, has been elected as the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly for the 2026–2029 term.

Mr Dick was in Abuja last week to consult with the Nigerian parliament and sought their support. The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and an Executive Member of the IPU, Godswill Akpabio had assured him of the support of Nigeria and to mobilize the support of the Africa Group of the IPU to support him.

Announcing the results in Arusha on Friday, the outgoing IPU leader, Dr. Tulia Ackson, said Milton Dick secured 56 percent of the total votes. His fellow candidates, Ms Sahiba Gafarova (Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan) and Mr Rojo Edwards Silva (Senator, Chile), received 38 percent and 6 percent of the votes respectively.

Dr Tulia stated that Gafarova got 124 votes while Mr Milton Dick collected 182 votes and Mr Edward Silver received 21 votes.

“So dear colleagues, let me now announce the winner please. Allow me to announce the winner please. The winner of the election of a President for the term 2026 to 2029 is Mr. Milton Dick, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia,” she announced.

Prior to his election, Milton Dick said there was the need for inclusive leadership that takes account of countries and parliaments that may have limited influence in international discussions.