The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Gombe State and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary election ahead of the 2027 governorship poll.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
Garry had argued that Pantami’s emergence did not comply with the PDP’s guidelines and relevant electoral requirements. Pantami and the party, however, defended the process during the earlier proceedings and urged the court to dismiss the challenge.
In its ruling, the court directed the PDP to conduct another governorship primary in accordance with its internal guidelines and applicable electoral laws. The decision effectively nullifies the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, joined the PDP after withdrawing from the APC governorship contest following the emergence of Jamilu Gwamna as the APC’s candidate. He subsequently secured the PDP ticket through a voice affirmation at a governorship primary held on May 26, 2026, after being presented as the sole aspirant.
His emergence had triggered opposition from other PDP governorship aspirants, including Garry and Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, who challenged aspects of the process that produced him as the party’s flag bearer. Earlier proceedings saw lawyers for the opposing sides present their arguments before the court reserved judgment.
With Thursday’s judgment, the PDP must now return to the primary process to determine its candidate for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.
The ruling reopens the party’s governorship contest in the state and places the validity of Pantami’s previous emergence as the central issue in the fresh nomination process.
