By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has reserved ruling on preliminary objections filed by the defendants in a suit challenging the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
At the resumed hearing on Friday before Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, counsel to the PDP, Barrister S. M. Yusuf, informed the court that he had regularised his motion through an oral application.
Yusuf subsequently adopted the processes contained in his further affidavit and urged the court to strike out the suit, arguing that it was incompetent under Section 115 of the Evidence Act.
Counsel to Prof. Pantami, Barrister Tunde Falola, also adopted his preliminary objection and supporting processes, including a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Shuaibu Usman Gwani.
Falola urged the court to dismiss the originating summons filed by the plaintiff, Usman Aliyu Garry, for lacking merit.
He argued that documents before the court showed that Pantami resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 19, 2026, before participating in the PDP governorship primary.
Responding, counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Ekpo Ejembi Ekpo (SAN), told the court that his client had filed a counter-affidavit, written responses to the preliminary objections, a further affidavit and documentary exhibits opposing the defendants’ applications.
He urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objections filed by the PDP, Pantami and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing them as lacking merit. He also asked the court to award costs against the defendants.
The senior advocate further adopted all affidavits, further affidavits and written submissions previously filed in support of the plaintiff’s case.
After hearing arguments from the parties, Justice Mohammed reserved ruling on the preliminary objections, saying a date for the decision would be communicated to the parties.