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 for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
The court, presided over by Justice Amina Mohammed, on Thursday ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 30 days.
The judgment followed a pre-election suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant, Usman Garry, challenging the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
Garry had challenged the validity of the process, arguing that the PDP failed to conduct a proper governorship primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral requirements.
Pantami had emerged as the PDP’s candidate through a voice affirmation during a governorship primary held on May 26, 2026, after defecting from the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The party subsequently formally presented him as its candidate on June 26.
However, the process was challenged by some PDP governorship aspirants, who alleged that the procedure excluded aspirants who had been screened and cleared to participate in the party’s governorship contest.
In its judgment on Thursday, the Federal High Court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary in compliance with its guidelines and the relevant electoral laws.
The court also ordered Pantami to stop parading himself as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.
Pantami had initially sought the APC governorship ticket but withdrew from the party’s primary, citing alleged irregularities in the process. He subsequently joined the PDP and secured its governorship ticket.
The court proceedings also involved separate legal challenges to Pantami’s emergence, including one filed by another PDP governorship aspirant, Khamisu Mailantarki.
Pantami served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy from 2019 to 2023 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
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