Officials who conducted the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency have alleged attempts to pressure them into discrediting the outcome of the exercise, insisting that the election was free, fair, and conducted in strict compliance with the party’s guidelines.
The allegations were made on Thursday during a press conference in Jos by the Chairman of the Forum of PKK APC Primary Ward Presiding Officers, Local Government Collation Officers, and Constituency Collation/Returning Officer, Chiwatda Tapar, who read a statement on behalf of the forum.
Tapar said the APC National Secretariat appointed members of the forum through the committee constituted to conduct the 2026 National Assembly primary elections in Plateau State, chaired by Hon. Stella Okotete.
According to him, the May 16 primary election was conducted peacefully, transparently, and credibly, after which the winner was duly declared.
“We discharged our responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution and Guidelines of the Party and the mandate entrusted to us. 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,” Tapar said.
He alleged that after the election, some members of the forum were approached by individuals seeking their cooperation in challenging the outcome of the primary.
“Following the election, some of us have been approached by individuals seeking our cooperation in challenging the outcome of the primary election. In particular, we have it on good authority that Hon Dr Tongshinen and Hon. Alice Dimlong have made contact with 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 stated.
Tapar further alleged that some of the approaches involved promises of political appointments through the Plateau State Government, monetary inducements, and intimidation.
“We further established that some of these approaches involved promises of political appointments through the Plateau State Government and other forms of monetary inducement, while some officers were also subjected to pressure and intimidation in an attempt to secure their cooperation,” he said.
The forum said it rejected the alleged overtures, maintaining that its members would not compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
“We categorically reject these approaches because they are inconsistent with the facts we witnessed during the conduct of the primary election. Our duty was to conduct a free, fair, and credible election, not to become instruments in any post-election effort aimed at distorting the truth,” the statement read in part.
Tapar disclosed that the forum had preserved information relating to the alleged contacts and would make it available to relevant authorities whenever necessary.
He said: “We have preserved relevant information relating to these alleged contacts and approaches and are prepared to present such information, where necessary, to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, the Party, or any court of competent jurisdiction whenever required.”
Calling for calm among party members, Tapar urged aggrieved stakeholders to seek redress through lawful channels instead of resorting to actions capable of undermining the party’s democratic processes.
“We firmly believe that any grievance arising from the primary election should be strictly pursued through lawful, transparent, and democratic processes. We hereby reaffirm our commitment to the integrity of the process we supervised and urge all party members and stakeholders to respect due process, uphold the truth, and allow any disputes to be resolved through the appropriate legal and institutional channels,” he said.
The forum reiterated its commitment to truth, fairness, and the democratic ideals of the APC, insisting that its role ended with the successful conduct of the primary election and declaration of the result.