Fresh Trouble for Pantami as PDP Aspirant Moves to Stop Him From Gombe Primary
From Muhammad Kabir Kano
A fresh legal battle is threatening the Peoples Democratic Party’s rescheduled governorship primary in Gombe State, as governorship aspirant Hon. Aliyu Usman (Garry) has asked the party to exclude Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) from the exercise scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
In a letter dated September 26 and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Aliyu’s lawyers, Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN & Associates, warned the party against allowing Pantami to participate while his eligibility remains the subject of a pending appeal and an application for stay of execution.
The latest move follows a September 24 judgment of the Federal High Court, Gombe Judicial Division, which, according to the letter, invalidated the PDP governorship primary conducted on May 26 and ordered the party to hold a fresh primary within 30 days.
The disputed primary had produced Pantami as the party’s candidate after Aliyu and three other aspirants were allegedly excluded from the exercise.
But the controversy has now shifted squarely to Pantami’s eligibility.
Aliyu’s lawyers contend that Pantami was, at the material time, a registered member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and had participated in the APC governorship primary on May 21.
They further argue that his name was not contained in the PDP membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before the PDP primary, which they say puts his participation at odds with Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026.
Although the Federal High Court ordered a fresh primary, Aliyu has appealed the aspect of the judgment concerning Pantami’s eligibility.
His lawyers said a Notice of Appeal was filed on September 25, followed by a motion for stay of execution seeking to stop the PDP from proceeding with the September 29 primary with Pantami on the ballot while the legal challenge remains unresolved.
The legal team also cited the Supreme Court’s September 24 decision in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party (SC/CV/495/2026), which they said affirmed strict compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act governing political party membership registers and participation in primaries.
They consequently urged the PDP leadership to exclude Pantami from the rescheduled exercise pending determination of the appeal.
The lawyers attached the Notice of Appeal, motion for stay of execution and certified true copy of the Federal High Court judgment to their letter.
The development raises the stakes ahead of Tuesday’s primary and places the PDP leadership at the centre of an escalating legal dispute over who is entitled to participate in the race for the party’s Gombe governorship ticket.
