The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded the immediate reinstatement of Professor Ibrahim Isa Ali Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Islamic human rights organisation also passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a replacement, alleging that the commission’s handling of Pantami’s candidature raises concerns about fairness and religious bias.
MURIC Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the demands on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during a press conference at the organisation’s headquarters in Lagos.
According to Akintola, the organisation was concerned about the omission of Pantami’s name from the list of governorship candidates in Gombe State, describing the development as unjust and unlawful.
He maintained that MURIC was a non-partisan organisation whose interest was the protection of Muslims’ fundamental rights, irrespective of their political affiliations.
How Pantami Emerged as PDP Candidate
Providing a background to the controversy, MURIC said Pantami was the sole PDP governorship aspirant in Gombe State in May 2026 and was affirmed as the party’s candidate through a voice vote on May 26.
The organisation explained that the initial primary election was subsequently nullified by a Federal High Court, leading to a fresh primary election on September 29, 2026.
According to MURIC, Pantami won the fresh direct primary with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki, who polled 389 votes, and Aliyu Garry, who received 112 votes.
Akintola further claimed that INEC monitored the fresh primary election and that the commission’s representative, Mr Gambo Umar Arabi, signed and submitted an official report on the exercise.
He questioned why the commission would omit Pantami’s name after monitoring the process that produced him as the party’s candidate.
MURIC argued that the conduct of the fresh primary, which it said followed the court’s directive, provided grounds for Pantami’s candidature to be recognised.
The organisation consequently called for the immediate restoration of his name to the list of PDP governorship candidates in Gombe State.
MURIC Accuses INEC Chairman of Religious Bias
The organisation also linked the controversy to previous concerns it had raised over Amupitan’s appointment as INEC chairman.
Akintola alleged that the INEC chairman had been associated with an 80-page legal brief concerning claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria that was reportedly sent to the United States.
MURIC argued that the alleged involvement raised questions about his impartiality in managing electoral matters involving Muslim candidates.
The organisation also recalled that it and the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria had previously expressed opposition to Amupitan’s appointment.
According to Akintola, the omission of Pantami’s name had reinforced the organisation’s concerns about the chairman’s handling of Muslim candidates.
However, MURIC’s allegations of religious bias and a deliberate attempt to exclude Pantami were claims made by the organisation and were not independently established in its press conference statement.
Calls on Tinubu to Replace INEC Chairman
MURIC called on President Tinubu to appoint a replacement for Amupitan, arguing that the country needed an electoral umpire who would operate without religious or ethnic prejudice.
The organisation alleged that the omission of Pantami’s name was deliberate and demanded an explanation from INEC over the decision.
Akintola further claimed that the commission’s action could undermine confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He maintained that the controversy should be resolved to ensure that qualified candidates could participate in the elections in accordance with the law.
MURIC Cites Clergy Serving as State Governors
In advancing its argument, MURIC cited the examples of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, whom it identified as Christian clergy or pastors.
The organisation questioned why an Islamic scholar such as Pantami should face difficulties in pursuing a governorship ambition if Christian religious figures could hold similar political offices.
It described the situation as evidence of what it alleged was unequal treatment of Muslim political aspirants.
MURIC, however, did not present independent evidence in the statement establishing that Pantami’s name was omitted because of his religious identity.
Demand for Immediate Action
Concluding its statement, MURIC reiterated its demand for the immediate reinstatement of Pantami as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.
The organisation also renewed its call for Amupitan’s removal, insisting that the handling of the matter had raised serious questions about INEC’s impartiality.
The controversy comes as political parties and electoral institutions prepare for the 2027 general elections.
The reasons for Pantami’s omission, INEC’s official position on the matter and any response from Amupitan to MURIC’s allegations were not included in the organisation’s press conference statement.
