Mailantarki Claims Victory in Gombe PDP Rerun Primary

Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, declared himself the winner of the rerun primary held on a Tuesday, contesting the eligibility of Professor Isa Ali Pantami. Mailantarki, who received 389 votes, claimed that Pantami's 2,555 votes should be considered invalid due to his alleged failure to meet participation requirements.

This rerun was ordered following a September 24 judgment from the Federal High Court in Gombe, which nullified the previous primary that had produced Pantami as the party's candidate. Mailantarki argued that the contest should have been between himself and Usman Garry, the third contender, as Pantami did not satisfy the necessary membership and clearance requirements.

He stated that his lawyers had previously alerted both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the legal implications of Pantami's participation. Mailantarki emphasized that the election was fair, but questioned the eligibility of Pantami, while Garry expressed dissatisfaction with the voting process in his area.