A fresh political battle has emerged over the 2027 Gombe State governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the process that produced Professor Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s candidate.
The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, on Thursday ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with its constitution, guidelines and relevant electoral laws. (Trust Radio)
The judgment followed pre-election suits filed by PDP governorship aspirants, including Usman Aliyu Garry and Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, who challenged the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
The plaintiffs argued that the PDP did not conduct a valid primary in accordance with the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
Justice Mohammed held that the process through which Pantami emerged did not satisfy the required legal and procedural standards. The court also noted that some aspirants who had been screened and cleared were not allowed to participate in the earlier exercise. (Trust Radio)
The ruling has effectively reopened the PDP governorship contest in Gombe State, with the party expected to organise another primary.
The PDP has said it accepts the judgment and will commence the necessary processes for a fresh primary. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the date and timetable for the exercise would be communicated after the necessary arrangements are concluded.
The Gombe State PDP Chairman, Maj.-Gen. Abnon Kwaskebe (retd.), also said the party would comply with the court order and address the lapses identified in the judgment. (Trust Radio)
Pantami’s legal team has also accepted the judgment. His lead counsel, Barrister Ibrahim Muhammad Attahir, said the team was satisfied with the outcome despite the order for a fresh primary, noting that the court rejected several of the reliefs sought by the opposing parties.
Pantami emerged as the PDP’s candidate after joining the party in May 2026 following his withdrawal from the APC governorship contest.
He had initially pursued the governorship ticket under the APC but withdrew after the party adopted Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as its consensus candidate. Pantami subsequently joined the PDP and was affirmed as its governorship candidate. (Trust Radio)
His emergence, however, immediately generated opposition from some PDP aspirants, who argued that the process did not give them an opportunity to contest the ticket.
With the court now ordering a fresh primary, those aspirants are expected to have another opportunity to participate in the contest.
A Kano-based lawyer, Barrister Umar Usman Danbaito, said Pantami has the option of accepting the judgment and participating in the fresh primary or appealing the decision.
He noted that the Electoral Act provides for judicial determination of pre-election disputes and said the legal process must be concluded within the applicable electoral timetable. (Trust Radio)
The judgment therefore introduces a new phase in the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 Gombe governorship election, with Pantami facing a fresh internal contest for the party’s ticket.
