PDP schedules fresh Gombe governorship primary after court ruling

The Peoples Democratic Party has scheduled a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State for September 29, 2026, after a Federal High Court nullified the process that produced Isa Pantami as its candidate for the 2027 election. The party’s Gombe State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, announced the date in a statement issued on Friday. He directed eligible delegates to assemble at their respective ward areas for the exercise and vote for their preferred aspirant.

Dukku said the repeat primary would be conducted in accordance with the court’s directive, the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws. He also appealed to members, supporters and well-wishers to cooperate with the arrangements. The statement urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully and orderly during the exercise.

The party said the fresh contest would determine its nominee for the governorship election scheduled for 2027. Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, emerged as the party’s candidate at a May 26 governorship primary. His selection was made through voice affirmation.

That process was challenged by other PDP governorship aspirants, including Usman Garry, who argued that voice affirmation did not amount to a valid primary election. The legal challenge led to the Federal High Court order issued in Gombe on Thursday, September 24. The court consequently nullified Pantami’s emergence and directed the PDP to conduct another primary in line with its internal rules and applicable electoral laws.

The party’s announcement now sets out the timetable for implementing that order, although the supplied material does not identify the aspirants expected to contest the repeat exercise.