A former Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Gombe State, Hon. Monica Yahaya Kaltho, has withdrawn from the court action challenging the party’s 2027 governorship primary and declared her full support for its candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
Kaltho was among the aspirants who were not cleared to participate in the PDP governorship congress, leaving Pantami as the sole candidate presented for affirmation.
Her withdrawal followed consultations and an appeal by former Gombe State Governor and leader of the PDP in the state, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who urged her to discontinue the legal action in the interest of party unity and progress.
Kaltho described Dankwambo as a father and respected leader whose counsel she deeply valued, saying the unity of the PDP and the development of Gombe State were more important than her personal political ambition.
She pledged to work for Pantami’s victory in the 2027 governorship election and urged party members to remain committed to the collective goal of returning the PDP to power and providing quality leadership for the people of the state.
Reacting to the withdrawal, Pantami commended Kaltho for what he described as her maturity, patriotism and commitment to the unity of the party.
He assured her that she remained an important stakeholder in the PDP’s campaign and would be carried along in the collective effort to strengthen the party and develop Gombe State.
Pantami subsequently visited Kaltho at her residence to personally thank her for withdrawing from the case and supporting his candidacy.
He described her decision as a sacrifice made in the overall interest of the PDP and the people of Gombe State.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Hussaini Ali Muhammed, Media Aide to Dankwambo, and made available to journalists on Saturday.
Pantami’s governorship campaign also received a boost following the defection of the Social Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2023 Gombe State governorship election, Kelmi Lazarus, to the PDP.
Lazarus, a former Gombe State chairman of the SDP and former General Manager of Gombe Radio Corporation, said his decision followed extensive consultations with his supporters.
He declared his support for Pantami, whom he described as possessing the vision, competence, integrity and leadership capacity required to move the state forward.
“I joined the Peoples Democratic Party after careful consideration and consultation with my supporters,” Lazarus said.
“My decision is based on my conviction that Professor Isa Ali Pantami possesses the vision, competence, integrity and leadership capacity required to provide purposeful governance and advance the development of Gombe State.”
Lazarus described Pantami as the most qualified candidate in the race and urged his supporters and residents of the state to back the PDP candidate.
“Professor Pantami stands out as the most qualified candidate in this race. I therefore call on my supporters and the good people of Gombe State to rally behind the PDP in our collective interest for the progress and prosperity of the state,” he added.
The Gombe State chapter of the PDP described Lazarus’s defection as a major addition to its expanding support base.
The party said the development reflected increasing confidence among political leaders and other stakeholders in Pantami’s leadership and the PDP’s vision for Gombe State.
It welcomed Lazarus and his supporters into the party, assuring them of equal opportunities to contribute to efforts aimed at building what it described as a more united, peaceful and prosperous state.
In a related development, retired Air Vice Marshal B.A. Sani also defected to the PDP and declared his support for Pantami’s governorship ambition and other candidates of the party in the 2027 general elections.
The PDP described Sani, a prominent member of the Cham community from Balanga South in Balanga Local Government Area, as a significant addition to the party.
Explaining his decision, Sani said he was inspired by Pantami’s leadership qualities, competence, integrity, administrative experience and record of public service.
He said Pantami possessed the capacity and commitment to provide purposeful leadership, promote unity, drive sustainable development and improve the living conditions of the people of Gombe State.
Sani was formally received into the PDP by the state chairman, Major General A.K. Kwaskebe (retd.), alongside Pantami and other senior party leaders.
The PDP said the defections of Lazarus and Sani had further strengthened its support across the state and demonstrated growing confidence in its promise of inclusive governance, development and prosperity.
The party said it looked forward to working with the new members to secure victory for Pantami and all PDP candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Gombe has reserved judgment in a separate suit filed by Usman Aliyu Garry challenging Pantami’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, counsel to the PDP, S.M. Yusuf, informed the court that he had regularised his motion through an oral application.
He adopted the processes contained in a further affidavit supporting the motion and urged the court to strike out the case, arguing that it was incompetent under Section 115 of the Evidence Act.
Pantami’s counsel, Tunde Falola, also adopted a preliminary objection supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Shuaibu Usman Gwani.
Falola asked the court to dismiss the originating summons for lacking merit.
He argued that documents before the court showed that Pantami resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress on May 19, 2026, before participating in the PDP governorship primary.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN, opposed the preliminary objections filed by the PDP, Pantami and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He informed the court that the plaintiff had filed a counter-affidavit, responses to the preliminary objections, a further affidavit and documentary exhibits opposing the defendants’ applications.
Eko urged the court to hold that the suit was competent and ripe for determination. He also adopted the affidavits, documentary exhibits and written addresses filed in support of the plaintiff’s case and asked the court to award costs against the defendants.
After hearing submissions from all the parties, Justice Mohammed reserved judgment and said the date for its delivery would be communicated to them.
Pantami left the APC after losing the party’s governorship primary, citing alleged irregularities and injustice, before joining the PDP and emerging as its candidate.
His emergence remains the subject of legal challenges by some aspirants who were not cleared to participate in the PDP primary, although Kaltho has now withdrawn from the action and pledged her support for his campaign.
The post Kaltho Withdraws Suit Against Gombe PDP Primary, Backs Pantami As Lazarus, Retired Air Vice Marshal Join Party appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
