PDP Fixes Date For Fresh Gov’ship Primary In Gombe, Clears 3 Aspirants
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State for September 29, 2026, following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the earlier exercise which produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, as the party’s candidate.
Politics Nigeria reports that the party also cleared three aspirants to participate in the rescheduled primary, including Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, announced the development in a statement issued on Friday, directing eligible party members to participate in the exercise.
According to Dukku, the fresh primary will hold on Tuesday, September 29, with eligible voters expected to assemble at their respective ward areas to cast their votes for their preferred aspirant.
The development followed Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, which nullified the earlier governorship primary and ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh exercise within one month.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed in a suit filed by Garry, who challenged Pantami’s emergence as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Garry had argued that the process through which Pantami emerged did not constitute a valid governorship primary, contending that the party failed to conduct the required election.
Pantami emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate after joining the party from the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he had earlier sought the governorship ticket.
The former minister subsequently participated in the PDP’s May 2026 governorship primary and emerged through voice affirmation.
However, Garry challenged the process in court, leading to the judgment that directed the PDP to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
Reacting to the judgment, the PDP said it had received the decision in good faith and respected the authority of the court.
The party also welcomed the aspect of the judgment which validated Pantami’s membership of the PDP and his entry into the party ahead of the May primary.
Dukku said the party leadership and the contestants were studying the implications of the judgment, while urging members, supporters and stakeholders to remain calm and united.
He further said the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Adamu Jauro did not affect Pantami’s eligibility to participate in the rescheduled governorship primary.
The party spokesman consequently cautioned members against speculation and inflammatory statements that could heighten tension ahead of the exercise.
He assured that the PDP would take all necessary steps within the law to protect its interests and uphold what he described as its democratic integrity.
In a separate development, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against a Court of Appeal judgment that had voided parts of the Electoral Act 2026 dealing with political party primaries and membership registers.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision in favour of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and upheld the judgment of the trial court.
The apex court held that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
The court also awarded N2 million in costs against the ZLP.
In two other judgments delivered on Thursday, the Supreme Court dismissed separate appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party and Youth Party against decisions of the Court of Appeal in their respective cases involving INEC.
The parties had approached the appellate court to challenge decisions arising from disputes involving the electoral commission.
