Key Takeaways
- APC members in Plateau State protested alleged candidate imposition in the PKK Federal Constituency primary.
- The protest challenged the re-election of incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Adamu Gagdi as the party's candidate.
- A petition cited irregularities in result collation, specifically the alleged disregard of officially designated collation officers.
- Protesters demand a thorough review, investigation, and the upholding of internal party democracy.
JOS, PLATEAU STATE – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State is currently grappling with internal dissent following a peaceful protest staged by party members at its state secretariat in Jos. The demonstration was ignited by allegations of candidate imposition and significant irregularities during the party’s House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency.
Youths and concerned stakeholders from the constituency marched to the secretariat, displaying placards that conveyed their strong demands for justice and transparency. Messages like “Protect Internal Democracy,” “Our Votes Must Count,” “Respect Party Structures,” and “Justice for PKK Constituency” underscored their call for fairness and adherence to democratic principles within the party’s operations.
Challenging the Primary Election Outcome
Central to the protest was a formal petition submitted to the party leadership, directly challenging the outcome of the primary election. This election resulted in the incumbent lawmaker, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, being declared the party’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election. The petition, signed by aspirant Hon. John Tongshinen Gozhak on behalf of numerous party members, detailed serious allegations of irregularities during the crucial result collation and declaration phases.
Addressing party officials, the demonstrators emphasized their pursuit of justice and transparency, asserting that the integrity and credibility of the APC must be protected against any perceived manipulation. They highlighted the importance of upholding the democratic process to maintain members' trust.
Allegations of Collusion and Disregard for Protocol
The petition specifically outlined a critical procedural breach. It stated that the Plateau APC leadership had initially communicated the names of designated collation officers to all aspirants prior to the primary election. These officers were responsible for gathering and consolidating results from various voting centres. However, a significant deviation from this established protocol allegedly occurred.
The document claimed that officials deployed from the party’s national secretariat subsequently disregarded the legitimate authority of these state-level officers. It further alleged that these national officials introduced other individuals into the collation process, effectively sidelining the initially appointed personnel. The petition expressed profound surprise and dismay, noting that "certain officials or agents deployed from the National Secretariat rejected, displaced or otherwise disregarded the authority of the very officers whose names had earlier been officially communicated by the Plateau State Secretariat."
Undermining Confidence in Internal Democracy
Aggrieved members argued that this alleged development severely undermined the credibility of the primary election and the authenticity of Gagdi’s emergence as the APC candidate. They contended that if duly appointed officers could have their work disregarded, it would inevitably erode the confidence of party members in the integrity of the internal democratic processes. This, they stressed, could have long-term implications for party unity and future electoral success.
The protesters called for an immediate and comprehensive review of the primary election, a thorough investigation into the alleged replacement of collation officers, and robust measures to ensure that genuine votes were accurately reflected. Hon. Gozhak reiterated their peaceful approach: “We have therefore chosen the path of peace, dialogue, and lawful engagement. Our peaceful protest and presentation of this petition should be understood as an an appeal for justice within the party and not as an act of hostility against the APC.”
The petitioners urged the Plateau APC leadership to uphold established party structures and restore members’ confidence in the party’s internal democratic process. As of the time of this report, neither Yusuf Adamu Gagdi nor the Plateau State chapter of the APC had issued an official response to the serious allegations contained within the petition.
Why This Matters
This protest highlights the critical importance of internal party democracy and transparency in electoral processes, demonstrating how perceived irregularities can erode member confidence and potentially impact the party's cohesion and public image ahead of future elections.