Gombe PDP crisis: Mailantarki rejects rerun results, declares himself winner

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki has declared himself the true winner of the Gombe State primary rerun, rejecting the official announcement that handed victory to Isa Ali Pantami.

The PDP held a fresh governorship primary election in Gombe State on Tuesday. At the end of the exercise, the election committee, led by Hon. Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau, officially declared Pantami the winner.

However, Mailantarki, who came second, rejected the outcome, arguing that Pantami was legally unfit to participate in the race.

Addressing journalists after the results were announced, Mailantarki claimed that Pantami was still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the PDP screened its candidates for the original primary on May 26.

He stated that based on existing Supreme Court judgments regarding candidate eligibility, Pantami’s participation should be voided. He insisted the race should only have been between himself and the third-place candidate, Usman Aliyu Garry.

“Having come second in the election, and going by the Supreme Court judgment which declared Pantami not eligible to contest, I believe that I am the winner of this primary election,” Mailantarki.

This rerun was actually influenced by Mailantarki and other opponents, which led A Federal High Court in Gombe to cancel Pantami’s initial victory, forcing the party to organize a fresh election on Tuesday.

Mailantarki after the rerun outcome, pledged not to back down but return to the courtroom to secure the party ticket.