The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the emergence of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Gombe State for the 2027 election.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in a suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
Garry argued that the PDP did not conduct a valid governorship primary in line with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral requirements before announcing Pantami as its candidate.
Pantami had emerged through a voice affirmation during the party’s governorship primary in May, after joining the PDP following his departure from the All Progressives Congress, APC. The PDP subsequently announced him as its sole governorship candidate on June 26, 2026.
The court consequently ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
The ruling means the PDP will have to undertake another process to determine its candidate for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.
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