A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the emergence of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The court also ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State in accordance with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday, 24 September, following a suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry.
Mr Garry had challenged the process through which Prof Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate, arguing that the PDP failed to conduct a valid primary election before announcing him as its candidate.
Prof Pantami was declared the PDP’s sole governorship candidate after emerging through voice affirmation at the party’s primary in May. The party subsequently announced him as its candidate on 26 June.
The former minister had previously sought the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but left the party after it settled on Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate.
He subsequently joined the PDP and secured its governorship ticket.
The court’s latest decision effectively reopens the PDP’s race for the 2027 Gombe governorship election, requiring the party to organise a fresh primary to determine its candidate.
The ruling follows several legal challenges to the process that produced Prof Pantami as the PDP candidate.
