The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe State has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct a fresh governorship primary election following a legal challenge to the emergence of Professor Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s candidate.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed in a suit filed by Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged Pantami’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2026 Gombe State election.
Garry had instituted the case after the PDP announced Pantami as its sole governorship candidate on June 26, 2026. He argued that the party failed to conduct the required primary election in accordance with its rules and applicable electoral laws.
Pantami, a former aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), joined the PDP after the APC adopted Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus governorship candidate. He subsequently secured the PDP ticket through voice affirmation at the party’s governorship primary held in May.
However, in its judgment delivered on Thursday, the Federal High Court directed the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in line with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
The ruling could have implications for the PDP’s governorship nomination process in Gombe State as the party faces the need to comply with the court’s directive.
Details later…
