APC Members Protest Alleged Imposition of Plateau Reps Candidate
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State gathered peacefully at the party’s state secretariat in Jos to express their opposition to the alleged imposition of a candidate in the House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency.
The demonstrators also presented a petition contesting the primary result that named incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Adamu Gagdi as the APC’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election. The petition was signed by aspirant Hon. John Tongshinen Gozhak on behalf of aggrieved party members and stakeholders.
Demands for Justice and Transparency
Addressing party officials during the protest, the demonstrators stressed their demand for justice, fairness and transparency in the APC’s internal democratic process. They insisted that protecting the integrity of the party is essential ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The petition alleges that the Plateau APC leadership had officially communicated the names of designated collation officers to all aspirants before the primary election. These officers carried out the collation of results from the various voting centres.
However, the aggrieved members claim that officials from the party’s national secretariat later disregarded the authority of those designated officers and introduced other individuals into the collation process. The petition states:
“It came as a profound surprise to party members and stakeholders when reports emerged 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.”
The protesters argue that this development raises serious questions about the credibility of the primary election and the authenticity of the results that produced Gagdi as the APC candidate. They warn that if duly appointed officers can have their work disregarded, confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes is inevitably undermined.
Calls for Review and Protection of Votes
The demonstrators have called for an immediate review of the primary election and a thorough investigation into the alleged replacement of collation officers. They also demand steps to ensure that the genuine votes cast by party members are protected and accurately reflected in the final results.
Hon. Gozhak emphasized that the peaceful protest and petition reflect the members’ continued commitment to the APC, not hostility toward the party. He stated that the action is an appeal for justice within the party through dialogue and lawful engagement.
The petitioners urge the Plateau APC leadership to uphold the authority of established party structures, restore members’ confidence in the internal democratic process, and ensure that future primaries are conducted transparently and fairly.
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