A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has deferred its verdict regarding a legal challenge against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary that selected Isa Pantami, the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, for the 2027 election. Justice Amina-Aliyu Mohammed, who is presiding over the case brought by aspirant Khamisu Mailantarki, indicated that the date for the final decision will be communicated later after the conclusion of oral arguments from all legal teams.
Mustapha Ibrahim (SAN), representing Mailantarki, argued that the primary election was fundamentally compromised. He contended that Pantami participated despite not being a registered party member, rendering his candidacy invalid. Consequently, the plaintiff is requesting that the court void the May 26 primary results and mandate a new selection process featuring only qualified candidates. Ibrahim also maintained that the legal challenge remains robust despite the withdrawal of a co-plaintiff.
For the defense, PDP counsel Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) noted that the party is currently managing multiple pre-election disputes. While this specific challenge awaits a ruling, other related matters are scheduled for future court dates. The upcoming judicial decision is pivotal, as it will decide if the PDP can proceed with its current nominee or if a repeat primary election is legally required for the 2027 race.
