Pantami Endorsement: Gombawa Motors Sues Gombe Govt, Demands ₦550m Over Alleged Political Eviction
A Gombe based transport and logistics company, Gombawa Motors Nigeria Limited, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Gombe State Government and ten others, alleging that it was unlawfully evicted from the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Mega Park days after publicly endorsing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, ahead of the 2027 elections.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court, Gombe, seeks ₦550 million in compensation and damages, restoration of access to the Mega Park, a perpetual injunction restraining further interference with its operations, and a public apology from the respondents. The case, assigned to Justice A. A. Mohammed, was filed through Jay Adl Attorneys and signed by lead counsel Jibrin S. Jibrin.
The applicants are Gombawa Motors, its Managing Director Alhaji Mustapha Ibrahim, and Secretary Alhaji Isa Abubakar. The respondents include the Governor of Gombe State, the state government, the Attorney General, Principal Facilities Management Limited (the park concessionaire), the General Manager of the company, the General Manager of Gombe Line, Alhaji Ahmed Baba who is the official driver to Governor Yahaya Inuwa, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 12), the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Gombe, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
In an affidavit deposed by the Managing Director, the company said the dispute began on June 23, 2026, when its members publicly endorsed Professor Pantami at a PDP campaign event in Gombe. The applicants alleged that shortly after the endorsement, individuals believed to be supporters of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, pressured them to withdraw their support.
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The affidavit claimed that an APC loyalist, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, approached the company’s leadership demanding a reversal of their political stance. The applicants said they refused, insisting on their constitutional right to support any candidate.
They further alleged that on June 24, the Governor’s official driver, Alhaji Ahmed Baba, called the Managing Director and Secretary, warning that failure to abandon support for Pantami would “attract consequences.”
According to the suit, plain clothes operatives and police officers began visiting the Mega Park on June 25, and by June 26, Gombawa Motors was served an eviction notice and immediately locked out of the facility by security personnel from the Police, DSS and NSCDC.
The applicants said they had operated lawfully at the Mega Park for years, paid rent, complied with regulations, and had never faced enforcement action. They argued that the timing of the eviction strongly suggested political retaliation.
The affidavit stated that the eviction disrupted operations affecting more than 1,000 workers, labourers and dependants. It also claimed that 450 buses returning to Gombe from various regions were stranded without access to their designated terminal, causing widespread disruption to passenger movement and freight services.
The suit was filed under Sections 36(1), 39, 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee fair hearing, freedom of expression, peaceful association and protection against discrimination. It also cites the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, arguing that using state institutions to punish citizens for political choices constitutes a grave violation of constitutional liberties.
The applicants seek declarations that the eviction was unlawful and unconstitutional, an order restoring them to the park, a perpetual injunction against further interference, a public apology in two national newspapers and on Progress FM, ₦50 million as compensation for rights violations, and ₦500 million as general damages.
The matter came up on July 9, 2026, but counsel for some respondents requested time to file and regularise their processes. Justice Mohammed adjourned the case to July 15, 2026, for substantive hearing.
The allegations remain those of the applicants and are subject to judicial determination. The respondents are expected to present their defence when proceedings resume.
By PRNigeria
