A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Kamisu Mailantarki, has dismissed the reported endorsement of Isa Pantami as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship race.
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications, was reportedly announced as the PDP flagbearer following a consensus arrangement within the party.
Reacting on Tuesday in Gombe, Mailantarki criticised the emergence of Pantami, insisting the process that produced him as candidate fell short of agreed internal arrangements between aspirants and party leadership.
He maintained that the emergence of Pantami did not follow the framework earlier agreed upon by contenders and key party stakeholders.
According to him, aspirants including Abdulkadir Saleh, Usman Aliyu and Monica Kaltho had gone through all required stages such as purchasing nomination forms, screening, and engaging delegates ahead of the planned primary.
He noted that the party’s primary election was first scheduled for May 24 before it was later moved to May 26.
“Reports surfaced shortly before the exercise that Pantami had joined the PDP and was seeking the governorship ticket.
“I and other aspirants accepted Pantami into the party but expressed reservations about the timing of his entry into the race,” he said.
Mailartarki said party leaders had earlier encouraged aspirants to adopt a consensus option to strengthen unity within the PDP.
“The aspirants agreed to support any candidate selected from among them in the interest of party cohesion,” he said.
However, he alleged that a separate selection process was eventually carried out without the participation of other aspirants and major stakeholders.
“My position is not against any individual but centred on ensuring fairness and adherence to due process within the party,” he said.
Pantami recently defected from the APC to the PDP after failing to secure the party’s governorship ticket in his previous political platform.
