Federal High Court Gombe: Pantami Gombe Governorship Primary Nullified

• A Federal High Court in Gombe has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party's nomination of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for the 2027 governorship election.
• The court ordered the PDP to conduct a new primary election for the Gombe State governorship ticket.
• The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who argued Pantami's nomination process violated party rules and electoral laws.
• Professor Pantami had joined the PDP after failing to secure the All Progressives Congress's governorship ticket.
• His nomination via voice affirmation as a sole aspirant on May 26 had drawn objections from other party members.

The ruling underscores the judiciary's role in upholding procedural integrity within political parties, compelling adherence to both internal regulations and national electoral statutes.

A significant judicial decision has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) selection of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State. The Federal High Court in Gombe, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, delivered the judgment on Thursday, effectively setting aside Pantami's nomination. This ruling mandates the PDP to organize a fresh primary election to determine its flag-bearer for the upcoming gubernatorial contest.

The legal challenge was initiated by Usman Aliyu Garry, another aspirant within the PDP, who contested the legitimacy of the process that led to Professor Pantami's emergence. Garry's suit specifically sought to invalidate Pantami's candidacy, asserting that the method of his nomination contravened the established internal regulations of the PDP and relevant provisions of electoral law.

In response, both Professor Pantami and the PDP argued against the suit, maintaining that the primary election had been conducted in full compliance with the party's constitution, its guidelines, and the applicable legal framework. Despite their arguments, the court's decision to nullify the Pantami Gombe governorship primary means the race for the party's top ticket is now wide open once more, significantly altering the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Professor Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, had initially sought to secure the governorship ticket under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, after Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna emerged as the APC's candidate, Pantami subsequently defected to the PDP, positioning himself as a leading aspirant within the opposition party.

His nomination as the PDP's candidate occurred during a primary held on May 26, where he was presented as the sole aspirant. This process culminated in his declaration as the party's flag-bearer through a voice affirmation vote. This particular arrangement, however, immediately sparked considerable dissent and objections from several other aspirants within the Peoples Democratic Party.

Among those who voiced strong opposition to Professor Pantami's participation and subsequent nomination were Usman Aliyu Garry, Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, and Monica Kaltho. Their concerns primarily revolved around the propriety of his involvement in the PDP's governorship selection process, given his prior engagement in the APC's primary contest for the same office.

The dispute ultimately escalated into a legal battle, with Usman Aliyu Garry filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Gombe. Garry's petition specifically requested the court to annul Professor Pantami's nomination and compel the PDP to conduct a fresh primary election. During the court proceedings, Garry's legal representatives presented arguments supporting the reliefs sought, emphasizing the alleged procedural irregularities.

Conversely, counsel representing Professor Pantami and the PDP urged the court to dismiss the case. They insisted that Pantami's emergence as the candidate was entirely valid, having adhered to all pertinent party rules and legal requirements. After carefully considering the arguments presented by all parties involved, Justice Mohammed reserved judgment, indicating a thorough review of the submissions.

The subsequent Federal High Court Gombe ruling underscored the necessity for strict adherence to established protocols. The court's decision to set aside Pantami's emergence and order a new primary election was predicated on the finding that the initial process failed to comply with the PDP internal rules electoral law. This outcome highlights the judiciary's commitment to ensuring fairness and legality in political party nominations.

The court's judgment carries significant ramifications for the Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State. With the nullification of Professor Pantami's nomination, the party is now left without a validly established governorship candidate stemming from the contested May primary. This necessitates a complete restart of the candidate selection process, in accordance with the court's directive and the party's applicable guidelines.

Professor Pantami, who had been actively positioning himself as the PDP's standard-bearer following his defection, now faces a renewed challenge to secure the party's ticket. The ruling not only invalidates his previous nomination but also effectively reopens the internal party contest, setting the stage for another round of competition among aspirants for the Gombe 2027 governorship primary. This development ensures that the PDP must now navigate a fresh, court-ordered primary to legitimately select its candidate for the upcoming election.

Lawyers advising political parties or aspirants must ensure strict compliance with internal party rules and electoral laws during primary elections, as this ruling demonstrates the court's willingness to nullify candidacies based on procedural irregularities and non-adherence to established guidelines.

Source: Original reporting via Leadership