Gombe PDP to hold fresh governorship primary on September 29

The Peoples Democratic Party has scheduled September 29 for a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State after a Federal High Court nullified the party’s earlier exercise.

Three aspirants — Isa Ali Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry — have been cleared to participate in the new contest, according to the party.

The PDP announced the development in a statement issued on Friday by its Gombe State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku.

Dukku said the repeat primary followed Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Gombe, which voided the earlier primary and directed the party to conduct another exercise within one month.

He said eligible party members would participate in the fresh primary on Tuesday, September 29.

“Following the nullification, the PDP wishes to inform all its card-carrying members that there will be a gubernatorial repeat primary election on Tuesday, 29th September, 2026,” Dukku said.

The party said it had accepted the court’s decision and was studying the implications of the judgment.

It also said the judgment validated Pantami’s membership of the party and his participation in the May 2026 governorship primary.

The development follows a legal challenge to the earlier primary, in which Pantami emerged as the PDP candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The party maintained that Pantami remained eligible to contest the fresh primary, despite the nullification of the earlier exercise.

Dukku further said a Supreme Court decision delivered on Thursday did not affect Pantami’s eligibility for the rescheduled contest.

He urged PDP members, supporters and other stakeholders to remain calm and avoid statements capable of heightening tension in the state.

The party said it would comply with the court’s directives and take all necessary legal steps to protect its interests and preserve its internal democratic processes.