…Court-Ordered Primary Holds Tuesday as Three Aspirants Battle for PDP Governorship Ticket
Three cleared aspirants are set to contest the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Gombe State on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following a Federal High Court order nullifying the earlier process that produced Professor Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s candidate.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the fresh primary will feature Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, a former member of the House of Representatives; and Usman Aliyu Garry, who instituted the suit that led to the court’s order.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Gombe, nullified the May 26 primary on Thursday, September 24, 2026, directing the PDP to conduct a fresh exercise in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral provisions.
The court’s judgment followed a challenge by Garry, who argued that the process through which Pantami emerged by voice affirmation did not constitute a valid governorship primary under the party’s rules and the electoral framework. Mailantarki had also challenged Pantami’s emergence, alleging that he was not a registered PDP member at the time of the primary.
Pantami had joined the PDP after withdrawing from the APC governorship contest, where Jamilu Gwamna emerged as the party’s candidate. He was subsequently presented as the PDP’s sole aspirant and declared the candidate through affirmation.
The legal dispute became complicated by the Supreme Court’s September 24 ruling, which restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 dealing with party membership registers and candidate nomination. Section 77(5) requires that persons eligible to vote at party primaries must have their names in the membership register submitted to INEC within the prescribed period.
Garry has opposed Pantami’s participation in the fresh primary, arguing that Pantami’s name was not on the list of aspirants submitted by the PDP to INEC on May 10, as he joined the party on May 19. Mailantarki, however, expressed confidence in winning the ticket, calling on party members across the 114 wards to remain calm and united.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, confirmed that the party was fully prepared for the exercise and would abide by the court’s directive.
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting. Legal findings and party positions are attributed to their sources.
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