The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has concluded preparations for the rescheduled governorship primary election, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The party's Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmad, disclosed that all necessary arrangements have been made for the election to hold in all 114 electoral wards of the state.
Three contestants are vying for the PDP ticket: former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Hon Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, a former member of the House of Representatives; and Hon Usman Aliyu Garry, a former member of the Gombe State House of Assembly. The party has mobilized its card-carrying members to participate in the election.
The rescheduled primary election was ordered by the Federal High Court in Gombe, which ruled that a fresh primary election must be conducted within one month, in accordance with the PDP's guidelines and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act. The court, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, had earlier heard a case filed by Mailantarki, Garry, and Hamma Saleh, who challenged Pantami's eligibility to contest for the PDP ticket.
Mailantarki has expressed readiness to participate in the election and has called on his supporters to remain calm and abide by the outcome of the election. He described the development as a good one, saying that the election will now take its proper channel.
Meanwhile, Usman Aliyu Garry has also indicated his readiness to participate in the rescheduled election but insists that Pantami should not be allowed to contest, allowing only him and Mailantarki to vie for the ticket. Both Garry and Mailantarki have written to the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling on them to prevent Pantami from participating in the primary election.
The Gombe State office of INEC has confirmed that the fresh primary election to elect the PDP's gubernatorial candidate will hold on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, as scheduled. The INEC Public Relations Officer, Mohorret Bigun, disclosed this in a telephone conversation, stating that the commission had received a letter to that effect from its National Headquarters.
The PDP's rescheduled primary election is set to take place amidst tight security and high expectations from party members and supporters. The outcome of the election will determine who will be the party's candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Key points
- The PDP in Gombe State has concluded preparations for the rescheduled governorship primary election.
- Three contestants, including Pantami, Mailantarki, and Garry, are vying for the PDP ticket.
- The INEC has confirmed that the fresh primary election will hold on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, as scheduled.
