Prof. Isa Ali Pantami has officially emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections, following a court-ordered rerun primary held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The development comes after a Federal High Court nullified his earlier primary victory and directed the party to conduct a fresh exercise.
The rerun primary was held across all 114 wards in the state's 11 Local Government Areas. According to The Cable, the exercise was conducted smoothly, with the election committee chairman announcing the results on the same day.
Pantami Defeats Two Rivals in Rerun Primary
Hon. Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau, Chairman of the PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, announced that 2,555 accredited members participated in the exercise. Pantami secured 2,054 votes, comfortably ahead of his two challengers.
Former House of Representatives member Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki finished as first runner-up with 389 votes, while Usman Aliyu Garry came in third with 112 votes. The results were declared after collation across all wards.
Announcing the outcome, Shekarau said: "I, Hon. Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau, hereby declare Isa Ali Pantami as the winner of this primary election and return him as the duly elected governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 general elections."
Party Leadership and Security Agencies Praised
Shekarau praised the national and state leadership of the PDP for their support during the rerun process. He also commended security agencies for maintaining order throughout the exercise, ensuring a peaceful environment for voters.
Additionally, he acknowledged Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for "providing a leadership and support during the exercise," as well as party members across Gombe for their peaceful conduct during the primary.
Pantami Calls for Unity Ahead of 2027
In his acceptance speech, Pantami thanked party members for conducting the primary peacefully and called on both Mailantarki and Garry to join forces with him ahead of the 2027 elections. According to Daily Trust, he emphasized the need for party unity to secure victory in the general elections.
Pantami stated that if elected governor, he would offer purposeful leadership "and rescue the state from years of mis-governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration." His remarks signal a focus on challenging the incumbent APC government in Gombe State.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya swore in 19 new Permanent Secretaries, an appointment his administration described as the largest of its kind in the history of the state. The swearing-in took place at the International Conference Centre in Gombe, with the governor noting that the fresh batch brings the total number of Permanent Secretaries appointed since he took office to 55. He added that more than 100 directors have also been elevated into senior administrative positions within the state civil service during the same period.
