Concerns Raised Over Pantami’s Candidacy in Gombe PDP Primary

A candidate in the rerun governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Khamisu Mailantarki, has raised questions about Isa Pantami’s eligibility to take part in the primary.

Pantami, a former minister of Communications and Digital Economy, won the primary. This rerun happened after a Federal High Court canceled his previous nomination.

Mailantarki, who came second in the election, spoke to reporters after the event. He insisted that Pantami should not have been allowed to run.

He argued that the Electoral Act states only members whose names are on the party’s register sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in May can join primaries.

Mailantarki said he had informed both the PDP and INEC through his lawyers about his concerns. He referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling on these Electoral Act provisions.

“Despite our warnings, the PDP went ahead and fielded Isa Ali, who by his own showing was not a member of the party at the time, 21 days before the primaries,” Mailantarki said.

He added that only candidates who met the requirements as of the relevant date should have been allowed to run.

Mailantarki believed the primary should have been a contest just between him and Aliyu Garry, as they were the only qualified candidates at that time.

“It is on that note I believe that because the primaries will be between those who are qualified to contest, this primary effectively was between myself and Gari, and having secured the higher votes over and above Garry, I ought to be declared winner,” he stated.

He mentioned he would speak with his lawyers and other legal advisers before deciding on his next steps, including possibly going to court.

This new situation might increase the legal disputes around the PDP’s 2027 governorship ticket in Gombe State. This follows the earlier court-ordered rerun and the ongoing disagreements over who was legally qualified to participate.