Plateau APC Rejects Earlier PKK Primary Result, Declares Gagdi Winner
By Comfort Pius
The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared Hon. Yusuf Gagdi winner of the party’s House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency, dismissing an earlier result that announced another aspirant as winner.
Confusion had erupted after conflicting results emerged from the primary election conducted across the constituency over the weekend. Initial reports indicated that Gagdi, who currently represents the constituency in the House of Representatives, lost his bid for a third term to Dr. John Tongshinen.
However, addressing journalists in Jos on Monday, Chairman of the Plateau APC Primaries Electoral Committee, Stella Okotete, said the earlier declaration was unauthorized and invalid.
She explained that Barrister Nandom Andrew Kura remained the only duly appointed returning officer for the PKK Federal Constituency primary election and the sole official empowered to announce the authentic result.
“The only officially appointed returning officer, Nandom Andrew Kura, has the constitutional authority to declare the results of the primary election,” she said.
Okotete urged party members and the public to disregard any declaration made outside the authority of the electoral committee.
“Any announcement made outside the authority of the electoral committee is null and void and should be disregarded,” she added.
Following the clarification, the committee said the recognized returning officer, Barrister Nandom Andrew Kura, officially declared Yusuf Adamu Gagdi winner of the APC primary election conducted across the 36 wards of the constituency.
Reacting to the development, Gagdi maintained that the exercise was peaceful, credible, and conducted in line with party guidelines.
“The primary election was peacefully conducted across the 36 wards in line with the guidelines of our great party,” he said.
The lawmaker stated that the exercise was backed by accreditation records, photographs, and video evidence to prove its transparency.
“We have accreditation records, photographs, and video evidence to prove the credibility and transparency of the exercise,” Gagdi added.
He also dismissed claims suggesting the existence of multiple legitimate results, insisting that one of the announcements had already been invalidated by the electoral committee.
“The constitution and guidelines of the party clearly vest the power to appoint election officials in the electoral committee. Any declaration outside that authority is null and void,” he stated.
Gagdi further alleged that the earlier declaration attributed to Daspan Ishaya was fraudulent, arguing that the individual was neither appointed by the electoral committee nor authorized to announce election results.
Before the latest clarification, several media organisations had reported that John Tongshinen defeated Gagdi in the primary election.
The reports, attributed to Daspan Ishaya, claimed Tongshinen polled 29,968 votes against Gagdi’s 5,849 votes.
The conflicting declarations triggered confusion and tension among APC supporters across Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam, with rival celebrations reportedly taking place in parts of the constituency.
The development has further heightened concerns over internal disagreements and the credibility of the APC primary election process in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
