A Federal High Court in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The court, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary election in accordance with its guidelines and relevant electoral laws. The suit was instituted by PDP governorship aspirants Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Garry, who challenged the process by which Pantami was announced as the party's candidate on June 26, 2026.
According to the court, the process through which Pantami emerged did not satisfy the applicable legal and procedural requirements. The judge noted that Mailantarki and Garry were not allowed to participate in the earlier primary despite having been screened and cleared as aspirants. The court also considered arguments based on provisions of the Electoral Act relating to direct primaries and consensus arrangements, noting that the requirements of the law had not been complied with in the process that produced Pantami as the party's candidate.
Pantami, a renowned Islamic cleric and a former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, had joined the PDP on May 26, 2026, and emerged as its governorship candidate after securing affirmation from party delegates during the party's primary election. He garnered a total of 52,955 votes from the three senatorial districts in Gombe State. However, three of the aspirants who contested against him - Hamma Saleh, Aliyu Garry, and Khamisu Mailantarki - rejected Pantami's emergence as the party's governorship candidate, citing irregularities in the primary election.
The aspirants had argued that the primary election was postponed from May 24 to May 26, and they were surprised to learn that Pantami had emerged as the party's candidate. They approached the court, challenging the emergence of Pantami as the PDP governorship candidate and calling for the nullification of the primary election that produced him as the candidate for the 2027 governorship election. The court has now ruled in their favor, nullifying Pantami's emergence and ordering a fresh primary election.
The PDP has reacted to the court's judgment, saying it will comply with the directives of the court. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the PDP is a strong respecter of the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary. He added that the party will carefully study the judgment and take immediate steps to ensure full compliance with the directives of the court. The party will immediately commence the necessary processes towards the conduct of a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State.
Gombe State PDP Chairman, Maj-Gen. Abnom Kwaskebe (Rtd.), also said the party was satisfied with the decision and would comply with the court order. He said the conduct of the primary was the responsibility of the party and that the PDP would correct the lapses identified in the judgment. The party will make available the date, timetable, and other details regarding the conduct of the fresh primary to all aspirants, stakeholders, party members, and the general public.
The development has set the stage for a fresh battle for the PDP governorship ticket in Gombe State. Pantami's emergence had been a subject of controversy, with some aspirants rejecting his candidacy. The court's judgment has now opened the way for other aspirants to contest for the ticket. The PDP will have to conduct a fresh primary election to produce a new candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Gombe nullified Prof. Isa Ali Pantami's emergence as the PDP governorship candidate due to irregularities in the primary election.
- The court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary election in accordance with its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
- The PDP has vowed to comply with the court's judgment and conduct a fresh primary election to produce a new candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
