By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will comply with the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, which nullified the process that produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election and ordered the conduct of a fresh primary.
The party, in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Mohammed, on Thursday said it would carefully study the judgment and immediately commence the necessary steps to comply with the court’s directives.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed on Thursday, followed a pre-election suit instituted by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who challenged the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
Garry had challenged the validity of Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the PDP did not conduct a proper governorship primary in accordance with its constitution, guidelines and applicable electoral requirements.
Pantami had emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate through voice affirmation during the party’s May 2026 governorship primary process after joining the party from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP subsequently announced him as its candidate in June.In the judgment, the Federal High Court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws. The court directed that the affected aspirants be properly notified and allowed to participate in the fresh process.
The court’s decision effectively invalidated the earlier process that produced Pantami as the PDP’s candidate, reopening the contest for the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The court affirmed Pantami’s membership of the PDP, meaning that the basis for ordering a fresh primary was the validity of the nomination process rather than a finding that Pantami was not a member of the party.
The dispute arose after several PDP governorship aspirants challenged the circumstances surrounding Pantami’s emergence. Among those associated with the legal challenge were Garry, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, while Monica Yahya Kaltho later withdrew her case.
Reports on the judgment indicate that the court found that the PDP’s National Working Committee had disqualified some of the aspirants during the screening process but failed to formally communicate the disqualification to those affected.
The court held that the failure to properly notify the aspirants undermined the process and necessitated a fresh primary. The court consequently directed the party to return to the primary election process and conduct another governorship primary in compliance with its internal rules and the applicable electoral framework.
The PDP in the statement said it remained committed to the rule of law and would take immediate steps towards implementing the court’s directives.
“The PDP, as a responsible and law-abiding political party, is a strong respecter of the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary. The Party will, therefore, carefully study the judgment and take immediate steps to ensure full compliance with the directives of the Court,” the statement said.
The party said the decision was consistent with its commitment to internal democracy, due process and fairness, as well as strict adherence to its constitution, electoral guidelines and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Accordingly, the Party will commence the necessary processes towards the conduct of a fresh Governorship Primary in Gombe State in compliance with the judgment,” it added.
The PDP said the date, timetable and other details of the fresh primary would be communicated to all aspirants, stakeholders, party members and the general public after the necessary arrangements had been concluded.
The party urged its members, supporters and stakeholders in Gombe State to remain calm and law-abiding while the process is being put in place. It also called for unity among its members as it moves to implement the judgment and organise another process to select its governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
