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Gombe: Court nullifies Pantami’s PDP gov ticket, orders fresh primary

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The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the primary that declared the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Gombe State.

The presiding judge ,Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, on Thursday ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 30 days.

The ruling followed two separate suits filed by Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Garry, challenging Pantami’s emergence as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Justice Mohammed held that the process that produced Pantami did not comply with the party’s laid-down procedures and applicable electoral laws, resulting in the exclusion of some aspirants who had been screened and cleared to participate.

Pantami had initially emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate through a voice affirmation during the party’s primary in May 2026.

The former minister had earlier sought the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but withdrew from the race, citing alleged irregularities in the party’s primary process.

He subsequently defected to the PDP, where he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate.

The plaintiffs had also sought an order removing Pantami as a member of the PDP, alleging that he remained a member of the APC.

However, the court did not grant that relief and instead ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 30 days.

Counsel to the parties have expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the case.

Recall, Pantami served as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy from 2019 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.