The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe State has nullified the emergence of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The court also ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in the state in compliance with its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by another PDP governorship aspirant, Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
Garry had asked the court to set aside Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the PDP failed to conduct a valid governorship primary in accordance with its constitution, guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
The suit was one of several pre-election cases challenging Pantami’s candidacy.
The court, in its judgment, directed the PDP to organise another governorship primary in Gombe State.
The judgment followed the adoption of final written addresses and arguments by counsel to the parties after the court had reserved its decision in July.
Pantami, a former minister under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, defected to the PDP after the APC settled on Jamilu Gwamna as its governorship candidate.
He subsequently participated in the PDP governorship primary held on May 26, 2026, where he emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
However, Garry challenged the legality of the process, asking the court to determine whether Pantami’s emergence complied with the PDP’s rules and the Electoral Act.
The PDP and Pantami opposed the suit.
Counsel to Pantami argued that the former minister had resigned his membership of the APC on May 19, 2026, before participating in the PDP primary.
The PDP, on its part, urged the court to strike out the case.
Garry’s lawyer, however, urged the court to dismiss the objections and grant the reliefs sought by his client.
With Thursday’s judgment, the PDP is required to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State in accordance with the court’s directive.
The ruling could further alter the political landscape ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
