Ayomide Awe
The Peoples Democratic Party has fixed Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for a fresh governorship primary election in Gombe State, days after a Federal High Court nullified the earlier process that produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
The Gombe State chapter of the PDP also cleared Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry to participate in the rescheduled primary.
The development followed Thursday’s judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, which ordered the party to conduct another governorship primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral provisions.
In a statement issued on Friday, the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, announced that the repeat primary would hold on September 29.
Dukku said eligible party members were expected to assemble at their respective ward areas to participate in the exercise.
The statement read, “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.
“All eligible voters are expected to assemble at their respective ward areas to vote for an aspirant of their choice.”
The fresh contest effectively reopens the PDP’s governorship ticket in Gombe after the court set aside the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
The earlier primary, held in May, had produced Pantami through voice affirmation after he joined the PDP following his departure from the All Progressives Congress. The party subsequently presented him as its candidate in June.
The court ruling followed a suit instituted by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Garry, who challenged the validity of the process that produced Pantami.
The court directed the PDP to conduct a fresh primary in compliance with its own rules and relevant electoral requirements.
PDP: Judgment Does Not Bar Pantami
Despite the nullification of the earlier primary, the Gombe PDP said the judgment did not prevent Pantami from participating in the fresh contest.
The party said it had received the judgment in good faith and would respect the decision of the court.
It also said it welcomed the aspect of the judgment which, according to the party, validated Pantami’s membership of the PDP and the process through which he entered the party.
“The judgment is presently receiving the attention of the party leadership and contestants. While the legal implications and directives contained in the judgment are being studied, we urge all members, supporters and stakeholders of our great party in Gombe State to remain calm, peaceful and united,” Dukku said.
He further maintained that the court decision did not affect Pantami’s eligibility to participate in the rescheduled primary.
The party consequently urged its members and supporters to avoid speculation and inflammatory statements that could heighten tension ahead of the fresh exercise.
Dukku said the PDP would take necessary steps within the law to protect its interests and uphold what he described as the party’s democratic integrity.
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