Federal High Court voids Gombe PDP governorship ticket; party says it will rerun primary
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What happened
The Federal High Court set aside Isa Pantami's PDP governorship candidacy in Gombe State and directed the party to hold a fresh primary. The PDP subsequently said it would obey the order and conduct a new nomination exercise.
Why it matters
The ruling changes the PDP's candidate-selection process in a state contest and shifts near-term control over the ticket from an earlier primary outcome to a court-ordered rerun. It also adds one more live pre-election dispute in which court orders can alter party planning, timelines, and coalition bargaining.
A Federal High Court on September 24 nullified the Peoples Democratic Party governorship ticket earlier issued to Isa Pantami in Gombe State and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary. By early September 25, the PDP said it would comply with the ruling and organise a new exercise. The development puts another governorship contest into the hands of the courts and party administrators, with immediate implications for elite alignment, defections, and perceptions of judicial leverage ahead of 2027.
Watch for
Federal High Court registry release of the enrolled order and any stay application filed on or after 2026-09-25 PDP National Working Committee announcement of the date, venue, and delegate rules for the fresh Gombe primary by 2026-09-28 INEC acknowledgement of receipt of the court order or correspondence on candidate substitution for Gombe State by 2026-09-28 Public filing by Isa Pantami's legal team of a notice of appeal or motion for stay at the Court of Appeal on or after 2026-09-25
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