Court reserves judgment in suit challenging Pantami’s Gombe PDP governorship candidacy

The Federal High Court in Gombe has reserved judgment in a lawsuit challenging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary that produced the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The case was filed by PDP governorship aspirant Khamisu Mailantarki and is being heard by Justice Amina-Aliyu Mohammed.

After hearing arguments from lawyers representing both sides, the judge said the court would announce a date for the judgment later.

Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Mailantarki’s lawyer, Mustapha Ibrahim (SAN), said his client is challenging the legality of the primary, claiming the process was flawed because “a person who was not qualified to participate was allowed to contest.”

He said both the substantive suit and the defendants’ preliminary objections had been argued and were now awaiting judgment.

Ibrahim also dismissed concerns over the withdrawal of the second plaintiff, saying the case remains valid because Mailantarki is still pursuing the suit.

He urged the court to nullify the May 26 primary and order the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary involving only eligible aspirants.

According to him, Pantami “was not a registered member of the PDP at the time the primary election was held and should not have been allowed to take part.”

PDP lawyer Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) confirmed that the party has three pre-election cases before the court.

He said the Mailantarki case had been argued and judgment reserved, while another case was adjourned until July 23.

Ajibade added that a separate lawsuit filed by another governorship aspirant against the PDP and Pantami would come up the following day for the adoption of processes before a judgment date is fixed.

The court’s ruling will determine whether the PDP governorship primary in Gombe stands or whether the party must conduct a fresh primary ahead of the 2027 general election.