Federal High Court sitting in Gombe State has nullified the emergence of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday following a suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
The court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Gombe within 30 days and in line with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
It also directed Pantami to stop presenting himself as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Pantami emerged as the PDP candidate after a governorship primary held on May 26, 2026, where his emergence was reportedly affirmed through voice voting. The party subsequently presented him as its candidate on June 26.
Garry had challenged the validity of the process, arguing that the party did not conduct a proper primary in accordance with its rules and applicable electoral requirements. Other aspirants, including Khamisu Mailantarki, had also challenged aspects of Pantami’s emergence.
Pantami had initially sought the APC governorship ticket but left the party after APC settled on Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate. He subsequently joined PDP and secured its governorship ticket.
The latest judgment means the PDP will have to organise another primary to determine its candidate for the Gombe governorship election, unless the decision is altered on appeal or by a subsequent court ruling.
