By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Federal High Court No. 1 sitting in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary election.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
Garry had argued that the PDP failed to conduct a valid governorship primary before announcing Pantami as its candidate on June 26, 2026.
Pantami had emerged as the party’s candidate alongside other aspirants, including Abdulladir Hamma Sale, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Monica Kaltho.
The plaintiff challenged the process, contending that the party’s decision to adopt Pantami without conducting the required primary election was contrary to its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
In her judgment, Justice Mohammed ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
The ruling effectively nullifies Pantami’s emergence through the earlier process and requires the PDP to commence a fresh process for selecting its governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The judgment is the latest development in the legal battle over the PDP governorship ticket in Gombe State.
