Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The political landscape in Gombe State took a significant turn on Saturday, July 18, 2026, when one of the aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirants, Hon. Monica Yahaya Kaltho, officially withdrew from the court case challenging the party's governorship primary and declared her full support for the party's candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
Kaltho, who was among four aspirants who had earlier rejected Pantami's emergence and accused the party leadership of sidelining those who had purchased nomination forms, undergone screening and were cleared for the primary election, announced her decision after consultations and following an appeal from the leader of the PDP in Gombe State, former Governor Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo. The lawsuit, which was filed by some aggrieved aspirants who questioned the outcome of the primary election where only one candidate was presented for affirmation, had been a source of internal crisis for the party.
Explaining her decision, Kaltho said she acted "in the interest of party unity and progress". She described Dankwambo as a father and a leader whose counsel she deeply valued, adding that she accepted his advice because "the unity of the PDP and the development of Gombe State are more important than personal ambition". The former governorship hopeful also pledged to work tirelessly for Pantami's victory in the 2027 governorship election and urged PDP members to remain focused on the party's collective goal.
Reacting to the development, Pantami expressed profound appreciation to Kaltho for her maturity, patriotism, and commitment to party unity. He assured her that she remains an important stakeholder in the journey ahead and that everyone would be carried along in the collective effort to build a stronger PDP and a better Gombe State. As a mark of respect and gratitude, Pantami personally visited Kaltho at her residence to thank her for what he described as a sacrifice made in the overall interest of the PDP and the people of Gombe State.
Kaltho's withdrawal from the lawsuit comes amid a broader consolidation of support for Pantami's candidacy. The PDP's governorship candidate has also received a boost with the defection of Kelmi Lazarus, the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, who declared his support for Pantami. Lazarus, who previously served as the party's state chairman, said he was convinced that Pantami possesses the vision, competence, integrity and leadership capacity required to provide purposeful governance.
The dispute over Pantami's emergence had its roots in the events of May 2026. Pantami, who had been a minister in the All Progressives Congress, withdrew from the APC governorship primary and defected to the PDP. His emergence as the PDP candidate, through a voice affirmation primary, was immediately rejected by four aggrieved aspirants—Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Usman Aliyu Garry, and Monica Kaltho—who had been preparing for the governorship primary through proper party channels. They alleged that due process was not followed and that there was an attempt to "smuggle" Pantami into the race. The aggrieved aspirants also questioned the legality of Pantami's participation, noting that he had only recently defected from the APC and had already participated in its primary. Kaltho herself had earlier stated, "The new one that just joined us, that's two days back, he wasn't a member... You cannot leave the party without declaring that you have resigned or you are decamping to PDP. It's like coming through the window and it's not accepted by law".
Despite the grievances, Kaltho's decision to withdraw from the lawsuit and endorse Pantami marks a significant step towards resolving the internal disputes that had threatened to weaken the PDP's unity ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Her statesmanship has been widely praised and is expected to further strengthen the party's campaign as it prepares for the 2027 elections. The PDP is seeking to unseat the incumbent APC government in Gombe State, and party leaders have emphasized the need for unity and cohesion to achieve that goal.
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