Pantami Wins Fresh PDP Governorship Primary In Gombe

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fresh governorship primary election held across the 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State.

Pantami polled 817 votes to defeat his closest rival, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, who secured 153 votes, while Usman Aliyu Garry scored 50 votes.

The fresh primary was conducted on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following a Federal High Court judgment which nullified the earlier process that produced Pantami as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

The court had ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days in compliance with the party’s constitution, guidelines and relevant electoral laws.

The three aspirants cleared for the rerun were Pantami, Mailantarki and Garry.

Pantami had initially emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in May through a voice affirmation.

However, the Federal High Court in Gombe, in a judgment delivered on September 24, nullified the earlier primary after a legal challenge by rival aspirants.

The court held that the process that produced Pantami did not comply with the party’s laid-down procedures and applicable electoral provisions, and directed the PDP to conduct a fresh exercise.

The party subsequently fixed September 29 for the rerun, with eligible members directed to participate in the exercise across the state.

With Tuesday’s result, Pantami has now secured the PDP ticket through a fresh voting process ahead of the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.

The former minister served as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy from 2019 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.