Pantami’s PDP ticket nullified as court orders fresh Gombe primary

The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has reserved judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.

Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed reserved judgment after hearing arguments from lawyers representing the parties in the suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant, Usman Aliyu Garry.

Garry is challenging Pantami’s emergence as the party’s candidate, with the suit questioning the legality of the process through which the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy secured the PDP ticket.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the PDP, S.M. Yusuf, urged the court to strike out the suit, arguing that it was incompetent under Section 115 of the Evidence Act.

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Counsel to Pantami, Tunde Falola, also urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that documents before the court showed that Pantami resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 19, 2026, before participating in the PDP governorship primary.

Counsel to Garry, Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN, opposed the preliminary objections, maintaining that the suit was competent and deserving of judicial determination.

He adopted the affidavits, documentary exhibits and written addresses filed in support of the plaintiff’s case and urged the court to dismiss the objections raised by the PDP, Pantami and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

After listening to submissions from the parties, Justice Mohammed reserved judgment and said the date for its delivery would be communicated to them.

Pantami emerged as the PDP governorship candidate after a party primary held in Gombe on May 26, 2026, following his departure from the APC. He had earlier withdrawn from the APC governorship primary, citing alleged irregularities in the process.

The court’s decision will determine the outcome of Garry’s challenge to Pantami’s candidacy and the validity of the process that produced him as the PDP flag bearer.

(Trust)