Lawyers to the Peoples Democratic Party and its Gombe State governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim, have given the Independent National Electoral Commission a three-day ultimatum to publish his name on the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

The lawyers, led by Ahmed Raji, SAN, made the demand in a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman and obtained by our correspondent, describing the omission of Ibrahim’s name from the list published on October 10 as unlawful and unexplained.

They urged INEC to include his name and give it the same prominence as other candidates’.

The letter read in part, “Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim is a duly registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward, Gombe State. He duly submitted the updated PDP membership register (containing his name) to the Commission (see Annexure A hereto). He purchased the PDP Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the gubernatorial primary.

“After screening and clearance, he participated in the governorship primary election of the PDP, Gombe State, emerging as the winner on the 26th day of May, 2026. Thereafter, the PDP submitted his personal particulars (Form EC9) to the Commission on the 8th day of August, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission published his name on the 29th day of August, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Act. Up to this point, no step was taken by the Commission to question any aspect of his emergence.

“The primary of 26th May, 2026, was thereafter challenged in Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 between Usman Aliyu (Garry) v. PDP & 2 Ors and Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/10/2026 between Khamisu Ahmed & Anor v. PDP & 2 Ors before the Federal High Court, Gombe. The second and fourth questions submitted for determination in the Originating Summons squarely challenged Isa Ali Ibrahim’s membership, contending that, because his name was not in the PDP register submitted to the Commission, he was ineligible to contest the primary. Those issues were fully litigated on affidavit evidence and determined.”

The PDP lawyers said the Federal High Court did not establish that Professor Pantami was ineligible to be recognised as a member of the party or to emerge as its governorship candidate for Gombe State in the 2027 election.The legal team, citing judgments in Suits Nos. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 and FHC/GM/CS/10/2026, said the court ruled against the plaintiffs on the questions concerning Ibrahim’s membership and eligibility.

They added that the court held that the party’s recognition of Ibrahim as a member, supported by his membership card and the party register, was sufficient to dismiss the claims of ineligibility.

The letter added, “By the two judgments of the 24th day of September, 2026, the Court nullified the primary of 26th May, 2026, on grounds relating to the conduct of that exercise, and directed the PDP to conduct a fresh gubernatorial primary election within 30 days, in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026, its Constitution and its Electoral Guidelines, ‘affording the Plaintiff and all other aspirants whose clearance from the screening exercise of 14th May 2026 remains valid the opportunity to participate.’

“The Court’s consequential orders restrained the PDP and the Commission only from recognising, accepting, publishing or giving effect to a nomination arising from the exercise of 26 May 2026′ (judgments annexed as Annexures B and C, respectively).

“In compliance with the Court Order, the PDP gave the Commission due notice of the court-ordered primary and conducted the fresh gubernatorial primary election on Tuesday, the 29th day of September, 2026. The Commission conducted the exercise in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026, the PDP Constitution and its Electoral Guidelines, and officials of the Commission attended, observed and monitored it; the Commission’s monitoring report is in its custody (Annexure D hereto).

“At the conclusion of that exercise, Isa Ali Ibrahim emerged the winner, and his name was again submitted to the Commission as the nominated candidate of the PDP.”

The PDP lawyers argued that only a court can order the removal of a nominated candidate’s name, adding that INEC’s role in party primaries is to observe, monitor and report, not disqualify candidates.

They stated, “It is settled law, binding on the Commission, that the removal of a nominated candidate’s name is exclusively a judicial act: DINGYADI & ANOR v. INEC & ORS (2011) LPELR-950(SC); RAYMOND v. INEC & ORS (2023) LPELR-61366(CA); AC & ANOR v. INEC (2007) LPELR-66(SC). The Commission’s role in primaries is to attend, observe, monitor and report, not to disqualify and not to cherry-pick.

“In the circumstances, we have our Clients’ firm and unequivocal instructions to demand, and we hereby demand, that the Commission, on or before Wednesday, the 14th day of October, 2026, publish and circulate the name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the office of Governor of Gombe State in the 2027 general elections, in the same manner and with the same prominence as the names of all other candidates published on the 10th day of October, 2026.

“We trust that the Commission, as an impartial electoral umpire committed to the rule of law and compliance with judicial orders, will take immediate corrective action and confirm in writing the steps taken to resolve this matter.”

INEC on Saturday published its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, leaving out the PDP from the lists for Ogun and Gombe states.

The lists, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, include 13 candidates for Ogun and 16 for Gombe, excluding PDP nominees Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, in a statement on Sunday, appealed to the affected candidates, members and supporters to remain calm as talks with the commission continued.

Deputy Medical Director, General Hospital, Apapa, Dr. Ridwan Kekere-Ekun, said high costs of dental materials, equipment and hospital operations limit Nigerians’ access to timely dental care.

Kekere-Ekun, Chief Dental Officer at the hospital, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.

Kekere-Ekun identified imported dental equipment and materials, whose prices were affected by the naira’s depreciation, as major factors driving up treatment costs.

He added that high energy costs, including petrol and diesel for generators, increased hospitals’ operational expenses, which were transferred to patients through higher bills.

The dentist also attributed the problem to inadequate government funding of hospitals and limited public trust in health insurance schemes.

He said poor insurance coverage forced many Nigerians to pay out-of-pocket for consultations, X-rays, prescriptions and dental treatments.

According to him, financial constraints often prevent patients from completing investigations and recommended procedures, forcing some to abandon treatment or select only one of several planned interventions.

Kekere-Ekun added that delayed treatment could necessitate referrals and specialist reviews, while increasing morbidity and mortality risks.

He said the problem was common among patients visiting his hospital, noting that feedback from patients regularly highlighted the financial difficulties they encountered.

The dentist said some patients moved between dental facilities in search of cheaper and more affordable treatment.

He urged the government to increase funding for dental units and reduce import duties on dental equipment to make services more affordable.

Kekere-Ekun also called for mandatory enrolment in health insurance schemes, supported by adequate public sensitisation, to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure.

He recommended greater investment in preventive dental care through public education, community outreach, free scaling and polishing, and public-private partnerships.

The dentist further urged the government to expand dental services and reduce hospitals’ energy costs through electricity and diesel subsidies, generator support and solar installations. (NAN)

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has said the $1bn approved for defence procurement during his tenure as Army Chief was released to the Ministry of Defence.

He said the funds approved by the National Economic Council did not pass through his hands or the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Speaking at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference in Abuja on Monday, Buratai described the allegations surrounding the funds as “political and malicious,” saying they first emerged during the 2019 election period when the opposition alleged that the money had been diverted for electoral purposes.

“The $1 billion was approved by the National Economic Council for defence procurement. Not a single dollar of that fund passed through my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, or Air Force. The funds were released to the Ministry of Defence, and the entire procurement process was handled by that ministry.

“The Army, Navy, and Air Force never had a single dollar from that fund to make procurement directives. I have described these allegations as political and malicious. They first surfaced during the 2019 election period, when the opposition alleged the funds had been diverted for electoral purposes-a claim the Federal Government publicly refuted. Yet the stain remained, attached to the Service Chiefs rather than the institution that managed the funds”, Buratai stated.

Buratai said the Federal Government publicly refuted the allegation at the time but lamented that the controversy continued to affect the reputation of service chiefs.

He faulted the ministry for publicly explaining how the funds were disbursed or how contracts were awarded.

“The ministry then, on its own, had not publicly explained how funds were disbursed or contracts awarded. Accountability must be properly located,” he said.

Buratai, however, called for greater transparency in military procurement, recommending the establishment of a defence procurement transparency portal to publish information on contracts awarded, contracting entities and delivery timelines, subject to national security considerations.

“The Ministry of Defence must own procurement records. The $1 billion arms procurement controversy festered because the institution that managed the funds, the Ministry of Defence, remained silent while Service Chiefs absorbed criticism.

“I recommend a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal that publishes, within national security limits, broad categories of contracts awarded, contracting entities, and delivery timelines. When the media asks where the money went, the answer should come from the ministry that spent it, not from military officers who never touched it,” he said.

He further proposed quarterly accountability bulletins summarising court-martial outcomes relating to human rights violations and operational conduct, provided the publications did not compromise the rights of accused personnel or ongoing military operations.

On allegations of human rights violations by members of the Nigerian security forces, Buratai said credible claims should be investigated and, where substantiated, prosecuted.

“I have always maintained that where credible allegations exist, they must be investigated and, where substantiated, prosecuted. The military is not above the law,” he said.

He acknowledged the need for the military to demonstrate that its disciplinary processes were credible, transparent and capable of addressing allegations at all levels.

The retired army chief said improved communication by the military and the Ministry of Defence would help address public concerns and ensure that media reports reflected the full context of security operations.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be addressed by military force alone, calling for improved intelligence, modern technology and stronger collaboration among security agencies and communities.

Idris, represented by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, said military operations remained necessary but must be complemented by measures to address the conditions enabling criminal groups to recruit members and threaten the lives and livelihoods of citizens.

“This Conference’s theme is particularly relevant because today’s security threats cannot be addressed by force alone. Military operations remain necessary, but they must be supported by reliable intelligence, modern technology, effective coordination among security agencies and cooperation with communities,” he said.

The minister said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda placed national security at the centre of Nigeria’s development, adding that the administration was pursuing the modernisation of the Armed Forces, intelligence-led operations, improved surveillance and stronger coordination among security and intelligence agencies.

He disclosed that Tinubu, in August 2026, directed the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to improve coordination, establish priorities and guide the deployment of resources.

“This is an important step towards a more coherent national response to evolving threats,” Idris said.

He also said the President had approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for Armed Forces personnel, effective September 2026, describing the decision as recognition of the sacrifices made by security personnel.

According to him, security initiatives must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians, including safer communities and roads, protection for farmers and businesses, and an environment where children can attend school without fear.

On the role of the media, Idris said accurate reporting and responsible verification were necessary to help citizens understand security developments and prevent rumours from creating panic or undermining military operations. He, however, warned against interpreting responsible reporting as shielding the government or security agencies from scrutiny.

“This does not mean shielding the government or the security agencies from scrutiny. Journalists must keep asking difficult questions and hold institutions accountable, while respecting legitimate operational sensitivities,” he said.