Buhari’s Minister Pantami Loses PDP’s Gombe Governorship Ticket As Court Orders Fresh Primaries
The Federal High Court has ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct a fresh primary election for its governorship ticket in Gombe State, erstwhile held by the former Minister of Communications under President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Isa Ali Pantami.
The court, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, gave the order in a suit filed by Usman Aliyu Garry to challenge the emergence of Pantami as the PDP Governorship Candidate for Gombe.
Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence after the party announced him as its sole candidate on June 26, 2026, arguing that the required primary election was not conducted.
Pantami, who was an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had defected to the PDP after his former party conceded the ticket to Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate.
Subsequently, Pantami secured the ticket through voice affirmation during the PDP governorship primaries held in May 2027.
However, in its judgement delivered on Thursday, the court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary election in accordance with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws
