A Federal High Court in Gombe has reserved judgment in a lawsuit challenging the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.
The ruling will determine if Pantami can legally run for the governorship of Gombe State in the 2027 election [1]. The outcome could shift the political landscape of the region if the court finds the party's nomination process was flawed.
The suit was filed by Usman Aliyu Garry, who serves as the plaintiff in the matter. Garry said that the PDP primary process which produced Pantami as the candidate was marred by irregularities and injustice [2].
According to the dossier, Pantami's path to the PDP candidacy followed his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC). This move occurred after Pantami suffered a loss during the APC's own primary process [2].
The legal battle centers on whether the internal mechanisms of the PDP were properly followed during the selection of the candidate for the 2027 race [3]. The court's decision to reserve judgment means that the presiding judge has heard the arguments and evidence from both sides and will now deliberate before delivering a final verdict.
While some reports indicated that hearings were only beginning, multiple sources said the court has moved to the judgment phase [1], [3]. The proceedings remain focused on the legitimacy of the party's internal democracy, and the legality of the candidate's transition between political parties.
“The Federal High Court in Gombe has reserved judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of Isa Pantami”
This case highlights the volatility of party loyalty and the legal scrutiny surrounding primary elections in Nigeria. If the court rules against Pantami, the PDP may be forced to conduct a fresh primary or select a new candidate, potentially delaying their strategy for the 2027 Gombe State election and altering the competitive balance against the APC.
