“I Will Continue To Challenge Pantami’s Candidacy” — Garry Vows Despite INEC Clearance

A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Gombe State, Usman Aliyu Garry, has vowed to continue challenging the candidacy of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for the 2027 governorship election, saying there are still unresolved legal issues surrounding the party’s ticket.

Garry, who is challenging Pantami’s emergence as PDP governorship candidate, said he will not withdraw his challenge despite the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, clearing Pantami as the party’s candidate.

Speaking on the matter, Garry said there is still a case before the court regarding the dispute, stressing that he will continue to pursue lawful means to resolve the matter.

He also expressed doubt over the criteria used by INEC to clear Pantami, saying the commission needs to disclose the guidelines it followed in arriving at the decision.

“I will continue to challenge his candidacy. There is still a case before the court, and I don’t know the criteria INEC used to clear him,” Garry said.

He emphasized that INEC’s action does not mean the dispute has been laid to rest, especially as litigation is still ongoing in court.

The dispute over Pantami’s candidacy stems from legal and political processes following the PDP governorship primary in Gombe State.

Pantami, former Minister of Communication, first won the PDP ticket in the primary held in May 2026. However, the result was challenged in court, leading to the Federal High Court in Gombe nullifying the election on September 24, 2026 and ordering a fresh primary.

In the fresh primary, reports indicated that Pantami polled 2,555 votes, while Garry scored 112 votes and Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki got 389 votes.

However, the controversy took a new turn when Pantami’s name did not appear in the list of candidates released by INEC on October 10, 2026.

His omission sparked further debates, with Pantami and the PDP asking the electoral body to recognise him as the party’s candidate. Questions also arose over compliance with legal and administrative provisions regarding party membership registers and candidate nomination, particularly interpretation of the Electoral Act 2026 and the Supreme Court judgment on party membership registration.

INEC on Thursday, October 30, cleared Pantami and NDC candidate in Kano, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, subject to court cases.