The Federal High Court No. 1 sitting in Gombe on Thursday reserved judgement in a suit challenging the emergence of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
The case, filed by Hammasale Abdulkadir, came up on Thursday before Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, after earlier proceedings commenced on July 9, 2026.
At the previous sitting, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister S. Onghbela, had applied for an extension of time to regularise his processes.
Justice Mohammed granted the application and adjourned the matter to July 23, 2026, for hearing.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to all parties adopted their final written addresses after arguing their respective preliminary objections.
Counsel appearing in the matter included Barrister Toli Babalele for the plaintiff, A.A. Ajibade (SAN) for the PDP, A.G. Kahinde (SAN) for Professor Pantami, and Barrister S. Onghbela for INEC.
The plaintiff, Hammasale Abdulkadir, was present in court alongside the PDP State Secretary, Alhaji Adamu Haruna Abubakar, and the party’s State Organising Secretary, Hassan Mohammed Santana.
After listening to submissions from all parties, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed announced that the court had concluded hearing the matter.
The judge said, “Judgment in this matter is hereby reserved. A date for its delivery will be communicated to the parties.”
The suit challenges the validity of Professor Pantami’s emergence as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
