The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State, effectively nullifying the process that produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed gave the order on Thursday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant, Usman Aliyu Garry, challenging Pantami’s emergence.
Garry had argued that the process through which Pantami emerged did not constitute a valid governorship primary in accordance with the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral provisions.
Pantami joined the PDP after his bid for the APC governorship ticket failed to produce him as the party’s consensus candidate. The APC subsequently settled on Jamilu Gwamna.
After joining the PDP, Pantami emerged from the party’s governorship process in May through voice affirmation and was subsequently announced by the party as its sole governorship candidate on June 26, 2026.
The court, however, directed the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral provisions.
The ruling followed earlier proceedings in which the PDP and Pantami defended the validity of the process that produced the former minister, while Garry maintained that the procedure was defective.
The court had earlier reserved judgment after hearing arguments from the parties.
The judgment has consequently reopened the PDP governorship ticket contest in Gombe State, with the party now required to conduct another primary to determine its candidate for the 2027 election.
