The Governorship Bid of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after a Federal High Court nullified the process that produced him and ordered the party to conduct another primary.
The judgment, delivered in Gombe on Thursday by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, followed a pre-election suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the validity of the process that produced Pantami as the party’s candidate.
The court directed the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with its constitution, guidelines and applicable electoral laws. It also ordered Pantami to stop parading himself as the party’s governorship candidate.
The ruling has reopened the PDP governorship contest in Gombe and placed Pantami’s political plans at a new crossroads.
How the Crisis Began
Pantami’s journey to the PDP governorship ticket was itself the product of a major political shift.
The former minister had initially sought the APC governorship ticket in Gombe. He later withdrew from the party’s primary after raising objections to the process that produced Jamilu Gwamna as the APC’s consensus candidate.
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Pantami subsequently left the APC and joined the PDP, where he entered the governorship race.
At the PDP primary held in May, Pantami emerged through voice affirmation after being presented as the sole aspirant. The party later formally presented him as its governorship candidate.
The process, however, triggered opposition from other aspirants who questioned the circumstances surrounding his emergence.
The Challenge to Pantami’s Ticket
Garry took the matter to court, arguing that the process did not amount to a valid governorship primary and failed to comply with the PDP’s guidelines and relevant electoral requirements.
Other aspirants, including Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, were also involved in legal challenges surrounding Pantami’s emergence.
Pantami and the PDP defended the process, maintaining that his emergence complied with the party’s procedures and the law.
After hearing arguments from the parties, the court reserved judgment.
Thursday’s decision has now set aside the earlier process and directed the PDP to return to the primary stage.
What the Judgment Means for Pantami
The immediate effect of the judgment is that Pantami may no longer holds the PDP governorship ticket secured at the May primary if the judgement is not appealed.
However, the ruling does not prevent him from seeking the nomination again in a fresh primary.
The development also means that the party’s earlier decision to settle on Pantami cannot be treated as final unless and until the fresh process produces a candidate in accordance with the court’s directive.
Will Pantami Appeal?
An appeal remains a possible legal route for Pantami, but his legal team has indicated that it is not currently pursuing one.
Barrister Ibrahim Attahir, a member of Pantami’s legal team, said the immediate focus was on complying with the order for a fresh primary within 30 days rather than challenging the judgment.
Attahir, however, said the position could change after consultations among members of the wider legal team.
This leaves Pantami with two possible paths: participate in the fresh PDP primary or pursue further legal action to stop that judgement from coming to life, depending on the eventual decision of his legal team.
For now, his lawyer’s comments suggest that the focus is on the fresh contest rather than an immediate appeal.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.