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The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the process that produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State ahead of the 2027 election.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday, September 24, 2026, directing the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
The case followed a legal challenge to Pantami’s emergence. PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry challenged the process, arguing that the exercise through which Pantami emerged did not amount to a valid governorship primary.
Pantami had initially sought the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later moved to the PDP after the APC settled on Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate. Pantami subsequently emerged through voice affirmation during the PDP’s governorship process in May and was announced as the party’s sole candidate on June 26.
The process, however, became the subject of legal challenges from other aspirants questioning its validity and compliance with party rules and electoral requirements.
In Thursday’s judgment, the court directed the PDP to return to the primary process, effectively reopening the contest for the party’s 2027 Gombe governorship ticket.
AIT reports an additional detail: the court ordered the fresh primary to be conducted within 30 days and directed Pantami to stop presenting himself as the PDP governorship candidate. AIT also reports that the fresh contest is to involve Pantami and Khamisu Mailantarki.
The ruling introduces a new phase in the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 Gombe governorship election, with the party now expected to comply with the court order or pursue any available appellate options.
