By Musa Baba Adamu
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 accused some unsuccessful aspirants of attempting to manipulate the post-election process by inducing and intimidating electoral officers to discredit the exercise.
The officials made the allegation during a press conference on Tuesday, maintaining that the 16 May 2026 primary election was conducted in line with the APC’s guidelines and produced a credible outcome.
The primary was won by the incumbent lawmaker, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, who polled 29,207 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Henry Jan, who secured 293 votes. Although conflicting declarations initially emerged after the exercise, the APC later affirmed Gagdi as the authentic winner.
Speaking on behalf of the ward presiding officers, Local Government Area collation officers and the constituency collation/returning officer, Chairman of the Election Officials, Chinwatda Tapar, said the officials were appointed by the APC National Secretariat through the committee headed by Stella Okotete.
Tapar said the election was peaceful, transparent and credible, stressing that the winner was duly declared at the end of the exercise.
He alleged that after the primary, some aspirants approached officials involved in the conduct of the election, asking them to sign affidavits that contradicted the actual events of the exercise.
According to him, Hon. Dr. Tongshinen and Hon. Alice Dimlong allegedly contacted some election officials and attempted to persuade them to endorse statements inconsistent with the conduct of the primary.
He further alleged that the approaches involved promises of political appointments through the Plateau State Government, financial inducements and other forms of pressure intended to support claims that the election was flawed.
Tapar also claimed that some officials were intimidated after refusing to cooperate with the alleged scheme.
The officials said they rejected the alleged inducements and intimidation, insisting that their responsibility was to conduct a free, fair and credible primary rather than participate in efforts to distort its outcome.
They added that evidence relating to the alleged contacts had been preserved and would be made available to law enforcement agencies, the APC or any court of competent jurisdiction if required.
The officials urged dissatisfied aspirants and party stakeholders to seek redress through lawful and democratic channels, while reaffirming their commitment to truth, due process and the integrity of the party’s internal electoral process.
