Court voids Pantami’s PDP ticket, orders fresh Gombe governorship primary

A Federal High Court in Gombe has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct a fresh governorship primary in the state, setting aside the process that produced former communications minister Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed gave the order on Thursday in a suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry. Garry challenged Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the process did not amount to a valid governorship primary under the party’s rules and applicable electoral provisions.

Pantami had moved to the PDP after failing to secure the APC governorship ticket. He later emerged through a PDP governorship process in May and was announced as the party’s sole governorship candidate on June 26, 2026.

The court’s ruling reopens the PDP ticket contest in Gombe. The party must now organise another primary if it wants to field a candidate in line with the judgment.

The case is also likely to sharpen political pressure around Pantami’s governorship bid, because the fresh primary order comes before parties move deeper into the 2027 election cycle.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Trust