Gombe PDP Primaries: Mailantarki Denies Declaring Self Winner Amidst Growing Internal Strife

In an atmosphere currently thick with political conjecture, Khamisu Mailantarki, a prominent governorship aspirant within the Gombe State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has formally stepped forward to debunk allegations circulating in media circles. Reports had suggested that the politician unilaterally declared himself the winner of the party’s recently conducted fresh primary election, a move that would have bypassed established electoral protocols.

Speaking directly to address the misinformation, Mailantarki clarified that he neither possesses the constitutional power nor the desire to usurp the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission or the official party returning officers. He asserted that such claims are not only factually inaccurate but appear to be part of a calculated smear campaign designed to sow discord among the party's rank and file in the state.

The aspirant maintained that his primary focus remains the pursuit of a mandate through legitimate and transparent democratic processes. He urged supporters and the general public to treat the recent viral reports as unconfirmed accounts, noting that the machinery of the PDP is the only entity authorized to communicate the final outcome of the primary contest.