The Peoples Democratic Party has fixed September 29 for a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State following a Federal High Court order nullifying the earlier exercise that produced former minister Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s candidate.
The party also cleared Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry to participate in the rescheduled primary.
The State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, announced the date and clearance of the aspirants in a statement issued on Friday.
Dukku said the primary would hold on Tuesday, with eligible delegates expected to assemble at their respective wards to participate in the exercise.
“Following the nullification, the PDP wishes to inform all its card-carrying members that there will be a gubernatorial repeat primary election on Tuesday, 29th September, 2026,” he said.
The development followed Thursday’s judgment by the Federal High Court in Gombe, which nullified the process through which Pantami emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days.
The case was instituted by Garry, who challenged the validity of the process that produced Pantami.
In its reaction to the judgment, the PDP said it accepted the decision and was taking steps to comply with the court’s directives.
The party, however, highlighted the portion of the judgment which it said affirmed Pantami’s membership and entry into the PDP, as well as his participation in the May 2026 primary.
Dukku also said a Supreme Court judgment delivered on Thursday did not affect Pantami’s eligibility to participate in the rescheduled primary.
He urged party members and supporters to avoid speculation and inflammatory comments, saying the party would take steps permitted by law to protect its interests and maintain its internal processes.
The fresh primary effectively reopens the PDP’s governorship contest in Gombe, with Pantami, Mailantarki and Garry now cleared to seek the party’s ticket.
