A lawyer representing former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has said the immediate focus following the latest court judgment is the conduct of a fresh Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Gombe State within 30 days.
Barrister Ibrahim Attahir, a member of Pantami’s legal team, said the team was not, for now, pursuing an appeal against the judgment, stressing that it would honour the court’s directive and prepare for the fresh primary.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP after the judgment, Attahir said the legal team had no further step at the moment other than complying with the order for a fresh primary within 30 days.
He, however, cautioned that the position could change following consultations with other members of the legal team.
“Personally, I don’t see any indication that we are going to appeal the judgment,” Attahir said, while acknowledging that a decision could emerge after consultations among members of the larger legal team.
The lawyer described the judgment as favourable to Pantami, identifying what he considered three significant aspects of the court’s decision.
According to him, one of the issues raised by Pantami’s political opponents was whether the former minister remained a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after moving to the PDP.
Attahir argued that membership of a political party was voluntary and that a person was entitled to leave a party.
He said the court’s decision effectively recognised Pantami’s exit from the APC as valid.
“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 described the court’s position on the issue as a major victory for Pantami and his supporters.
The second issue, according to Assahir, concerned the validity of Pantami’s membership of the PDP and the process through which he became the party’s governorship candidate.
He said the court rejected the argument that Pantami had improperly joined the PDP.
Attahir maintained that political parties had the authority to determine their membership and that the PDP’s acceptance of Pantami as a member and candidate was an internal party matter.
He further said the court declined to interfere in the party’s decision concerning its primary election.
The third point highlighted by the lawyer was Pantami’s inclusion among those eligible to participate in the fresh contest for the PDP governorship ticket.
Attahir said this meant Pantami would be among the aspirants expected to participate in the fresh 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,” he said.
Efforts to reach out to PDP leadership in the state on their next move was not successful as calls and messages were not responded to as of press time.
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