Gombe 2027: Kaltho Withdraws Suit Challenging Pantami’s Candidacy

One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Gombe State, Hon. Monica Yahaya Kaltho, has withdrawn from the legal challenge against the party’s governorship primary for the 2027 election and declared support for the PDP candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

Kaltho announced her decision on Saturday, saying she had withdrawn from the court case filed by some aggrieved governorship aspirants challenging the outcome of the PDP primary, where Pantami emerged as the party’s sole affirmed candidate.

LEADERSHIP recalls that in May, Kaltho was among four PDP governorship aspirants who opposed what they described as an attempt by Pantami to join the party and participate in its governorship primary after allegedly contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.

In a communiqué jointly signed with Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry, the aspirants had warned that such a move could expose the PDP to litigation and undermine its internal democratic processes.

However, Kaltho has now distanced herself from the legal challenge, attributing her decision to consultations and an appeal by former Gombe State governor and PDP leader, the Senator representing Gombe North, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

According to her, she accepted Dankwambo’s advice in the interest of party unity and progress.

She described the former governor as “a father and a leader” whose counsel she deeply values, adding that preserving the unity of the PDP and ensuring good leadership for Gombe State were more important than personal political ambition.

Kaltho urged party members to remain committed to the collective goal of securing victory for the PDP in the 2027 governorship election.

Responding, Pantami commended Kaltho for what he described as her maturity, patriotism and commitment to strengthening the PDP.

He assured her that she remained an important stakeholder in the party and pledged that all members would be carried along in the collective effort to build a stronger PDP ahead of the next general election.