Khamisu Mailantarki has formally announced his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), submitting his expression of interest form through his campaign Director-General, Adamu Bappah, at the party’s state secretariat on Monday.
Mailantarki, who previously ran as the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, defected to the PDP in November 2024. He stated his readiness to bolster the opposition and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle, urging the party to grant him its ticket.
Speaking at the submission event, Bappah described Mailantarki as a grassroots politician committed to the welfare and development of Gombe State, citing his tenure as a former member of the House of Representatives for Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency as evidence of his leadership credentials.
Responding on behalf of the party leadership, the PDP Deputy Chairman, Danazumi Adamu, representing State Chairman Abner Kwaskebe, said the party remains open to all aspirants. He disclosed that the deadline for submission of forms had been extended to allow more interested candidates to participate.
Adamu further noted that Mailantarki is among several governorship aspirants who have already completed the process, alongside about 20 others seeking seats in the State House of Assembly. He added that aspirants who are unable to submit their forms at the state secretariat may do so at their respective local government offices.
In a related remark, the party’s secretary, Adamu Haruna, called on local government chairmen to mobilise members to contest elective positions, expressing confidence in the PDP’s prospects ahead of future elections.
