Federal High Court reserves judgment in suit challenging the process that produced Isa Ali Pantami as the PDP governorship candidate for Gombe State.

The legal battle over Isa Ali Pantami’s emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State has intensified, with the Federal High Court in Gombe reserving judgment in a suit challenging the process that produced him.

The suit was filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry, who is challenging Pantami’s emergence and the validity of the party’s governorship primary.

Garry contends that the process that produced Pantami did not comply with the relevant legal and electoral requirements.

Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, initially sought the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before leaving the party and joining the PDP. He subsequently emerged as the PDP’s candidate after the party’s governorship primary.

During proceedings before Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, counsel representing the PDP and Pantami urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that it lacked merit and was procedurally defective.

Pantami’s counsel also maintained that the former minister had resigned from the APC before participating in the PDP governorship primary.

However, Garry’s counsel urged the court to reject the defendants’ objections, insisting that the suit was competent and supported by affidavits and documentary evidence.

After hearing arguments from the parties, Justice Mohammed reserved judgment and said a date for its delivery would be communicated.

The court’s decision could have implications for the PDP’s governorship ticket in Gombe State as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

Meanwhile, a separate suit filed by another PDP governorship aspirant, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, is also challenging the primary that produced Pantami and seeking an order for a fresh primary.

The pending cases have added to the legal uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s governorship ticket in Gombe State, with the courts expected to determine the validity of the challenges before the 2027 election.