GOMBE — A lawyer to former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must conduct a fresh governorship primary in Gombe State within 30 days following the latest court judgment.
Barrister Ibrahim Attahir, a member of Pantami’s legal team, said the lawyers were currently focused on complying with the court’s directive rather than pursuing an appeal.
Attahir said the team would prepare for the fresh primary while noting that its position on an appeal could change after further consultations with other members of the legal team.
“Personally, I don’t see any indication that we are going to appeal the judgment,” he said.
The lawyer said the judgment addressed three issues that, in his view, were significant to Pantami’s political position.
He said one of the issues was whether Pantami remained a member of the All Progressives Congress after joining the PDP.
Attahir argued that membership of a political party was voluntary and that individuals had the right to leave a party.
“Membership of a political party is not compulsory. A political party is not like a prison where, once you enter, a long process has to be followed before you can leave,” he said.
He said the court’s position effectively recognised Pantami’s departure from the APC as valid.
Attahir also said the court rejected arguments challenging Pantami’s membership of the PDP and his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate.
According to him, the court recognised the authority of political parties to determine their membership and treated the PDP’s acceptance of Pantami as an internal party matter.
He further said the court did not interfere with the party’s decision concerning its primary election.
The lawyer identified Pantami’s eligibility to participate in the fresh contest as another significant aspect of the judgment.
He said the former minister would be among the aspirants eligible to participate in the fresh PDP governorship primary ordered by the court.
“So, when we look at these three issues, we consider them a major victory for him, for us as his supporters, and for those interested in his political affairs,” Attahir said.
The legal team’s immediate position, according to Attahir, is to prepare for the fresh primary within the 30-day period stipulated by the court.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the PDP leadership in Gombe State were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to them were not answered as of press time.
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