Pantami emerged as the party’s governorship candidate through a voice-affirmation process at its May primary. The party subsequently recognised him as its candidate for the 2027 election
By Moses Okorie
The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed issued the order on Thursday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Usman Aliyu Garry, a PDP governorship aspirant who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
Garry had questioned Pantami’s emergence after the PDP announced him as its sole candidate on June 26, 2026. He argued that the party did not conduct a valid governorship primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral requirements.
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, had previously 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 in Gombe.
Upon joining the PDP, Pantami emerged as the party’s governorship candidate through a voice-affirmation process at its May primary. The party subsequently recognised him as its candidate for the 2027 election.
However, the Federal High Court ruled that the process was not sufficient and directed the PDP to organise a fresh governorship primary in line with its internal guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
The suit followed earlier proceedings in which Pantami, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opposed Garry’s challenge. The court had reserved judgment in July after hearing arguments from the parties.
The latest ruling effectively requires the PDP to restart the process of selecting its governorship candidate for Gombe State ahead of the 2027 election.