The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe on Friday commenced hearing in separate pre-election suits challenging the emergence of Prof Isa Pantami as the People’s Democratic Party governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
Justice Amina-Aliyu Mohammed, who presided over the proceedings, adjourned both suits until July 9 after counsel to the respondents sought more time to file their responses.
The suits were instituted by two PDP governorship aspirants, Khamis Mailantarki and Alhaji Hamma-Sale Abdulkadir, who are separately contesting Pantami’s nomination.
The plaintiffs joined the PDP, Pantami and the Independent National Electoral Commission as respondents.
They are asking the court to nullify Pantami’s nomination, alleging that he emerged as the party’s candidate without a valid primary election or a lawful consensus process.
The plaintiffs further contended that Pantami neither purchased the PDP nomination form nor participated in the party’s screening for governorship aspirants.
They also alleged that Pantami was pursuing the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress during the same period and was not a member of the PDP on the day the party allegedly adopted him through a consensus arrangement.
The suits are being prosecuted by B.A. Jatau, counsel for Mailantarki, and S.A. Mustapha, representing Abdulkadir.
The respondents are represented by Mr Benjamin Sati, Ibrahim Attahir, E.O. Akawu, and counsel for INEC, Mr Ayuba Peter.
At the commencement of proceedings, Peter told the court that the respondents had only recently been briefed and required time to prepare their defence.
“We have just been briefed by our clients and respectfully seek time to prepare and file our counter-affidavits,” he said.
Justice Mohammed granted the application and adjourned the matters till July 9 for further hearing.
Although the plaintiffs were absent from the proceedings, some of the respondents, including Adamu Haruna, Hassan Mohammed Hassan, and Dr Saidu Mohammed, were present in court.
