A contestant in the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Gombe State, Khamisu Mailantarki, has raised concerns about the eligibility of Isa Pantami to participate in the exercise. Mr. Pantami, the former minister of Communications and Digital Economy, emerged as the winner of the rerun primary. The primary was conducted after a Federal High Court ruling voided his earlier nomination. Mr. Mailantarki, who came second in the shadow election, addressed journalists after the exercise, insisting that Mr. Pantami was ineligible to run.
Mr. Mailantarki disputed Mr. Pantami’s eligibility based on the Electoral Act. He argued that only members whose names were on the party’s register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in May could participate in primaries. According to him, he had earlier notified both the PDP and INEC through his lawyers of his position. This was citing a recent Supreme Court decision on the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Mr. Mailantarki expressed concerns that despite his warnings, the PDP proceeded with fielding Isa Ali, who, by his own admission, was not a member of the party at the time, 21 days before the primaries. He emphasized that only aspirants who met the statutory requirements as of the relevant date should have been allowed to contest. This, he argued, made the primary effectively a contest between himself and Aliyu Garry, who were the two qualified participants at the material time.
Mr. Mailantarki claimed that having secured higher votes than Garry, he ought to be declared the winner. He stated that he would consult his lawyers and other legal advisers before deciding on the next steps. This includes the possibility of challenging the outcome in court. The development could further deepen the legal battle surrounding the PDP’s 2027 governorship ticket in Gombe State.
The PDP had conducted the rerun primary after a court ruling voided Mr. Pantami’s earlier nomination. Mr. Pantami won the exercise, while Mr. Mailantarki came second. Mr. Mailantarki’s concerns about Mr. Pantami’s eligibility may lead to further litigation. This could potentially delay the final determination of the PDP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State.
The Supreme Court decision on the Electoral Act, referenced by Mr. Mailantarki, provides clarity on the requirements for participating in party primaries. According to the decision, only members whose names are on the party’s register submitted to INEC can participate in primaries. Mr. Mailantarki’s argument hinges on this provision, which he believes disqualifies Mr. Pantami from the primary.
The outcome of the primary has significant implications for the PDP’s 2027 governorship ticket in Gombe State. The party may face further challenges in determining its candidate, given the competing claims and court rulings. Mr. Mailantarki’s next steps, including potential litigation, will be crucial in resolving the matter.
Key points
- Khamisu Mailantarki questions Isa Pantami's eligibility in Gombe PDP primary based on Electoral Act provisions.
