Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, one of the aspirants seeking the governorship ticket of the Nyesom Wike-backed main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, has declared himself winner of the party’s legitimate primary election, rejecting the official result that declared Prof Isa Ali Pantami the winner and gubernatorial candidate in the 2027 general elections.
The fresh primary election, conducted by the PDP on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, under the leadership of the Hon Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau Committee, ended with the declaration of Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s governorship candidate.
However, speaking to journalists shortly after the announcement of the results, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki claimed that Isa Ali Pantami was legally ineligible to contest, citing a previous court decision as the basis for his position.
According to him, ‘Based on the court judgment which indicated that Isa Pantami was not eligible to contest, I believe that I am the actual winner of this primary election.’
He claimed that, ‘Since I came second in the election and secured the legitimate members’ votes, it is my right to be declared the winner.’
Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki further maintained that Isa Ali Pantami was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) when the PDP screening committee initially screened the aspirants for the original primary election held on 26 May.
He insisted that the fresh primary should have been contested only between him and the third-place candidate, Usman Aliyu Garry.
Vowing to challenge the outcome, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki said he was prepared to pursue all available legal avenues to reclaim what he considers his rightful victory.
‘I am ready to go to court, even up to the Supreme Court, to reclaim my victory,’ he said.
The dispute follows a previous lawsuit filed by Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, which resulted in the cancellation of Isa Ali Pantami’s initial victory and an order for a fresh primary election.
As Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki prepares to return to court, the legal status of the PDP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State remains subject to further legal determination.
In the same vein, Usman Aliyu Gary, another of the aspirants, has dismissed the conduct of the fresh primary elections as a mere exercise in futility, saying it was against the principles of fairness and justice.
Speaking during a press conference in Gombe, he claimed that there was no valid conduct of the primary elections because of the participation of Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami in the exercise.
According to him, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami was not qualified to participate in the fresh primary elections because, as of the time the aspirants were screened for the May 2026 primary elections, he was not a member of the PDP.
He expressed his determination to pursue legal means to challenge the process, stressing that he is the legitimate person to be declared the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP.