PDP Moves To Reset Gombe Governorship Race As Fresh Primary Gets New Date

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced September 29, 2026, for a fresh governorship primary election in Gombe State, following a court order nullifying the emergence of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, as the party’s candidate.
In a public notice issued on Friday, September 25, PDP Publicity Secretary in Gombe State, Abdulkadir Dukku, directed eligible party delegates to assemble at their respective wards on Tuesday and participate in the repeat primary.
The notice stated that the exercise was being organised as a “gubernatorial repeat primary election,” urging party members, supporters and other stakeholders to cooperate with the process and maintain peace and order.
The development comes shortly after the Federal High Court in Gombe ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary.
The court, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, nullified Pantami’s emergence and directed the party to conduct another primary in accordance with its constitution, guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Usman Garry, a PDP governorship aspirant who challenged the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
Pantami had earlier withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary scheduled for May 21, citing alleged breaches in the electoral process.
He subsequently joined the PDP and emerged as its candidate for the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
With the court-ordered rerun now scheduled for September 29, attention will shift to the PDP as its delegates prepare to determine who will emerge from the fresh contest and represent the party in the 2027 election