The Judgment: Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed delivered the judgment on Thursday, granting the order following a legal suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Usman Aliyu Garry.

The Challenge: Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the mandatory primary election was not properly conducted in line with relevant rules.

The Court’s Order: The court directed the PDP to organize a brand-new primary election that strictly complies with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral laws.

Switching Parties: Pantami initially sought to run under the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a governorship aspirant, but left the party after the APC chose Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate.

PDP Ticket: Following his defection to the PDP, he was announced as the party’s sole governorship candidate on June 26, 2026, after securing the ticket through voice affirmation at a primary held in May.

Next Steps: With the nullification, the PDP must now conduct a new primary to determine its official candidate for the upcoming Gombe governorship race.

Moving Past World Cup Heartbreak: Reflecting on England’s third-place finish at the World Cup—which included a painful 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina—Gordon admitted he initially felt devastated, but believes the experience can serve as a stepping stone toward future victory.

Rejecting the Copycat Approach: Having moved from Newcastle to Barcelona in the summer, Gordon feels uniquely positioned to compare styles, stating that England should stop trying to mimic Spanish players because English footballers possess distinct, unique qualities.

Not in the English DNA: Gordon argued that trying to teach or adopt Spain’s patient style of dominating possession is unrealistic because it simply does not align with English football DNA.

The Argentina Substitution: Although surprised to be substituted 17 minutes after scoring against Argentina, Gordon acknowledged that wingers frequently get replaced during games.

Player Accountability: Defending manager Thomas Tuchel against criticism over his tactical shift to a back five, Gordon insisted that the players must take responsibility for failing to control the game in the final minutes.

Public Declaration: The 33-year-old footballer reportedly recited the Shahadah (the Islamic profession of faith) in Doha.

Video Confirmation: Qatari media outlet SarkinFoto reported the development, sharing a video of Troost-Ekong making the declaration, which has since drawn widespread congratulatory messages from fans in Nigeria and globally.

No Formal Statement: While Troost-Ekong has not issued a personal statement or publicly detailed his reasons for the decision, supporters have flooded social media with messages of goodwill.

Current Club: Troost-Ekong currently plays for Al-Ahli in the Qatar Stars League following previous stints across Europe and Saudi Arabia.

International Legacy: He remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated modern defenders, notably captaining the Super Eagles to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Tournament Honors: Although Nigeria fell 2-1 to the hosts in the final, Troost-Ekong’s stellar campaign—which included three goals, two of them from penalties—earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award.