Former Minister of Communication, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, again, on Tuesday, emerged candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
Pantami had earlier emerged as the candidate of the party, but last Thursday, a Federal High Court nullified his victory and ordered a fresh primary exercise.
The fresh primary election was conducted across the 114 wards across the 11 Local Government Areas of the state.
Chairman of the PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, Hon. Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau, who announced the results, said a total of 2, 555 accredited members participated in the exercise.
He said Pantami polled 2,054 votes to defeat the two other contestants.
Shekarau also announced that former member of the House of Representatives, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, scored 389 votes to emerge as the first runner-up, while Hon. Usman Aliyu Garry, who polled 112 votes, emerged as second runner-up.
“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 Demoratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 general elections,” he declared.
He commended the leadership of the PDP at both national and state levels for their support, which he said contributed to the successful conduct of the primary election.
He also praised members of the election committee for their cooperation and commitment, as well as security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and orderly process.
Shekarau further appreciated Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for “providing a leadership and support during the exercise.”
He thanked party members and the people of Gombe for their peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.
Pantami, in his acceptance speech, commended members of the party for voting peacefully during the exercise.
He called on Mailantarki and Garry to join him, and work for the success of all the party candidates during the general elections.
Pantami assured that if elected, he would provide purposeful leadership, “and rescue the state from years of mis-governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”
