Rival queries Pantami’s eligibility for Gombe PDP rerun primary

A contestant in Tuesday’s rerun governorship primary of the Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Khamisu Mailantarki, has questioned Isa Pantami’s eligibility to participate in the exercise.

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The former minister of Communications and Digital Economy won the exercise, which was conducted after the Federal High Court voided his earlier nomination.

Mr Mailantarki, who returned second in the shadow election, addressed journalists after the exercise, insisting that Mr Pantami was ineligible to run.

Mr Mailantarki disputed Mr Pantami’s eligibility on the ground that the Electoral Act requires that only members whose names were on the party’s register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in May can participate in primaries.

He said he had earlier notified both the PDP and INEC through his lawyers of his position, citing the recent Supreme Court decision on the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

“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,” Mr Mailantarki said.

According to him, only aspirants who met the statutory requirements as of the relevant date should have been allowed to contest.

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He argued that the primary should be considered a contest between himself and Aliyu Garry, whom he said were the two qualified to participate at the material time.

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“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 said.

Mr Mailantarki said he would consult his lawyers and other legal advisers before deciding on the next steps, including challenging the outcome in court.

The latest development could further deepen the legal battle surrounding the PDP’s 2027 governorship ticket in Gombe State, following the earlier court-ordered rerun and competing claims over who was legally qualified to participate.