Plateau APC primary: PKK officials allege inducement to discredit election results

By Muhammad Tanko Shittu — Officials who conducted the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam, PKK, Federal Constituency in Plateau State have alleged attempts by some aspirants to induce and intimidate them into discrediting the outcome of the exercise.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the incumbent lawmaker, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi,  had won the primary  after polling 29,207 votes to defeat Henry Jan, who secured 293 votes.

Although there were conflicting announcements, the APC finally declared Mr Gagdi as the authentic winner of the contest.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the officials insisted that the 16 May 2026 primary election was conducted peacefully, transparently and in full compliance with the party’s guidelines.

Speaking on behalf of the ward presiding officers, Local Government Area collation officers and the constituency collation/returning officer, the chairman of the election officials, Chinwatda Tapar, said they were appointed by the APC National Secretariat through the committee headed by Stella Okotete to conduct the primary election.

According to him, the winner of the exercise was duly declared and returned at the end of a credible process.

“The primary election was conducted peacefully, transparently, credibly and in full compliance with the party’s guidelines, after which the winner was duly declared and returned at the conclusion of the exercise,” Mr Tapar said.

He alleged that after the primary election, some aspirants approached officials who participated in the exercise and urged them to sign affidavits that contradicted the facts surrounding the conduct of the poll.

“In particular, we have it on good authority that Hon. Dr. Tongshinen and Hon. Alice Dimlong contacted some of the officers who participated in the conduct of the election, urging them to sign affidavits contrary to the facts of the exercise,” he alleged.

Mr Tapar further claimed that the approaches included promises of political appointments through the Plateau State Government, monetary inducements and other forms of pressure aimed at influencing the officials to support claims that were inconsistent with what transpired during the primary election.

He also alleged that some officials were subjected to intimidation in an attempt to secure their cooperation.

The officials said they rejected the alleged overtures, insisting that their mandate was to conduct a free, fair and credible election and not to participate in any effort to distort the outcome or undermine the integrity of the process.

They added that they had preserved information relating to the alleged contacts and would make it available to law enforcement agencies, the APC or any court of competent jurisdiction if required.

The officials called on aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders to pursue any grievances through lawful, transparent and democratic channels, while reaffirming their commitment to truth, fairness, due process and the integrity of the party’s electoral process.