Pantami Secures Fresh PDP Governorship Ticket in Gombe
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has won the fresh governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State.
Pantami emerged victorious after polling 817 votes in the rerun primary conducted across the state’s 11 local government areas on Tuesday.
He defeated two other aspirants, Khamisu Mailantarki, who scored 153 votes, and Aliyu Usman Garry, who secured 50 votes.
The fresh primary was conducted following a judgment by the Federal High Court in Gombe, which nullified Pantami’s earlier emergence as the PDP candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The court, presided over by Justice Amina Mohammed, directed the PDP to conduct a new primary in accordance with the party’s constitution, its electoral guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Garry, who challenged the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
Pantami had earlier withdrawn from the APC governorship primary scheduled for May 21 in Gombe, citing alleged violations of the electoral process.
He subsequently defected to the PDP, where he emerged as the party’s candidate before the earlier primary was nullified by the court.
With Tuesday’s rerun, Pantami has again secured the PDP ticket and is set to represent the party in the 2027 Gombe State governorship election, subject to applicable electoral processes.
