Gombe PDP governorship ticket nullified by Federal High Court

A Federal High Court in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Professor Isa Ali Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election. Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed issued the ruling following a lawsuit filed by PDP aspirants Usman Aliyu Garry and Khamisu Mailantarki, who argued that the party failed to conduct a valid primary election in accordance with its constitution and the Electoral Act.

Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, had previously been a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before joining the PDP and emerging as its candidate through a voice affirmation process in May 2026. The court found that this process did not satisfy legal and procedural requirements and ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary.

The PDP has announced its intention to comply with the court's directive. The party has scheduled the fresh primary election for September 29, 2026, in Gombe State, urging members and stakeholders to maintain peace during the process.