Court Nullifies Pantami’s PDP Gombe Ticket, Orders Fresh Governorship Primary

The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the emergence of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 Gombe State election.

The court, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, on Thursday ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws.

The judgment followed a suit filed by another PDP governorship aspirant, Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate. Garry had argued that Pantami’s emergence did not comply with the party’s rules and applicable electoral requirements.

Pantami and the PDP had opposed the suit, maintaining that his emergence was conducted in accordance with the law and the party’s procedures. Pantami’s legal team had urged the court to dismiss the case, while Garry’s counsel asked the court to grant the reliefs sought by his client.

Pantami emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate at the party’s primary on May 26 through voice affirmation after being presented as the sole aspirant. His emergence followed his withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress governorship contest and subsequent move to the PDP.

The development had triggered objections from some PDP aspirants, including Garry, Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Monica Kaltho, who questioned Pantami’s entry into the party’s governorship contest.

Thursday’s judgment means the PDP is required to organise another governorship primary to determine its candidate for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.