The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State is set for a fresh governorship primary today, Tuesday, September 29, with former Communications Minister, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry battling for the party’s ticket.
The repeat primary follows a Federal High Court judgment which nullified the earlier exercise that produced Pantami as the PDP candidate for the 2027 governorship election and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, said the party had cleared the three aspirants for the rescheduled contest and directed eligible members to participate in the exercise.
The party said the fresh primary would be conducted in line with the court’s directive, its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
The earlier primary, held in May, produced Pantami through a voice affirmation. Mailantarki and Garry subsequently challenged the process in court, arguing that screened aspirants were excluded from the contest.
Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed ruled that the process did not comply with the PDP’s internal procedures and applicable electoral provisions and consequently ordered a fresh primary. The court, however, declined the request to remove Pantami from the PDP over allegations concerning his previous membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mailantarki has welcomed the rerun, saying he is ready to contest alongside Pantami and urged his supporters to remain calm and accept the outcome.
Garry is also expected to participate, although he and Mailantarki have reportedly challenged Pantami’s participation in the fresh exercise through further legal action.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the fresh PDP primary will hold as scheduled today.
The development sets the stage for a three-way contest as the PDP seeks to produce its candidate for the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
