By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Federal High Court in Gombe on Thursday, September 24, 2026, nullified Isa Pantami’s PDP governorship ticket and ordered a fresh primary. The ruling followed a suit by PDP aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
Court Orders Fresh PDP Primary
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment in Gombe. She directed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct another governorship primary.
The court ordered the party to follow its guidelines and applicable electoral laws. It also barred Pantami from presenting himself as the PDP governorship candidate.
The ruling followed Garry’s challenge to the process that produced Pantami. He argued that the PDP did not conduct a valid governorship primary.
How Pantami Emerged as PDP Candidate
Pantami previously sought the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later left the party after it settled on Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate.
He subsequently joined the PDP and participated in the party’s governorship process in May 2026.
Pantami emerged through a voice-affirmation process during the primary. The PDP later announced him as its sole governorship candidate on June 26.
However, other aspirants challenged the process in court. They argued that the procedure failed to meet the party’s rules and relevant electoral requirements.
Fresh Contest for PDP Governorship Ticket
The judgment has now reopened the PDP governorship contest in Gombe State.
The party must organise another primary to determine its candidate for the 2027 election. The fresh exercise must comply with the court’s directive and relevant electoral provisions.
The development could also allow eligible PDP aspirants to seek the ticket again. Further legal proceedings could affect the implementation of Thursday’s judgment.
Pantami’s Political Background
Pantami served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy from 2019 to 2023. He later entered the Gombe governorship race ahead of the 2027 election.
His movement from the APC to the PDP preceded his emergence as the opposition party’s candidate. The latest court ruling has now placed the PDP ticket back into contention.
