A senior legislative aide to Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo has dismissed reports linking the former Gombe State governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the senator remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leader in Gombe State.
The aide, Ibrahim Mailjuju, who served as Dankwambo’s Special Assistant for eight years before becoming his Senior Legislative Aide, described the reports as attempts to discredit the senator and create division within the opposition party.
Speaking with Voice of Nigeria, Mailjuju maintained that Dankwambo had not defected to the APC, arguing that the senator’s appearance on an APC campaign advisory list did not establish that he had joined the ruling party.
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The controversy followed the publication of APC campaign council and advisory lists bearing Dankwambo’s name. While the PDP in Gombe State rejected the inclusion, the APC’s state publicity secretary, Usman Murtala, was reported as saying that Dankwambo had agreed to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Mailjuju said the reports had circulated previously, alleging that Dankwambo was part of the President’s campaign team.
“I was surprised when I saw Dankwambo’s name on the list published on Uba Misilli’s Facebook page. Some days earlier, a similar report had circulated, claiming that Dankwambo was part of President Tinubu’s campaign team. We debunked it and challenged those responsible to provide video or photographic evidence showing that he attended the inauguration of the presidential campaign team, but they failed to respond,” he said.
The aide argued that the allegations were politically motivated and intended to distract PDP members from developments within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Mailjuju, Dankwambo’s reserved nature and reluctance to respond publicly to every political controversy had made him vulnerable to attempts to misrepresent his political position.
He urged PDP members and supporters in Gombe State to remain focused and united, expressing confidence that the party would overcome its current challenges.
Addressing questions about Dankwambo’s relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Mailjuju maintained that their personal ties should not be interpreted as evidence of political cooperation with the APC.
“Senator Dankwambo is not an ordinary political figure. He served as Accountant-General of the Federation and as governor of Gombe State for eight years. He has supporters across the country, and his political achievements are a product of his knowledge and experience,” the aide stated.
Mailjuju further stated that Dankwambo had consistently maintained that PDP members found engaging in anti-party activities should face disciplinary action.
He said the senator had directed the PDP leadership in Gombe State to ensure that appropriate measures were taken against members found working against the party’s interests, describing this position as evidence of Dankwambo’s continued commitment to the PDP.
“Senator Dankwambo is a PDP member, and his relationship with Wike is personal, not political. He remains the leader of the PDP in Gombe State,” Mailjuju reiterated.
On the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, the aide expressed confidence in Professor Isa Ali Pantami’s political prospects, urging supporters not to be discouraged by the challenges facing the party.
He alleged that individuals seeking to undermine the PDP had continued to adopt different tactics to create internal divisions whenever previous attempts failed.
Mailjuju called on party members in Gombe State to remain calm and united, expressing confidence that the political situation would become clearer as preparations for the elections progressed.
He disclosed that he had contacted Dankwambo’s media aide following the circulation of the latest report and was informed that the senator had been briefed on the development.
According to Mailjuju, Dankwambo was expected to address his supporters on the matter.
Reaffirming his personal loyalty to the senator, the aide said he had never belonged to any political party other than the PDP and remained committed to supporting Dankwambo.
He urged party members and the public to avoid drawing conclusions about the senator’s political affiliation from unverified claims and to refrain from actions that could deepen divisions within the opposition party.
