Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared Hon. Yusuf Gagdi as the winner of the party’s House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency, rejecting earlier results that named another aspirant victorious.
Confusion erupted after conflicting results emerged from the primary election conducted across the constituency over the weekend. Initial reports had 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 APC Plateau State Primaries Electoral Committee, Stella Okotete, dismissed the earlier declaration as unauthorized and lacking constitutional backing.
Okotete said Barrister Nandom Andrew Kura remained the only duly appointed returning officer for the PKK federal constituency primary and the sole official empowered to declare the authentic result of the election.
“Barrister Nandom Andrew Kura is the duly recognized returning officer for the PKK Federal Constituency primary election and the only person authorized by the committee to officially announce the result,” she said.
She 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, void, and should be disregarded,” Okotete added.
Following the clarification, Kura officially declared Yusuf Gagdi winner of the APC primary election conducted across the 36 wards of the constituency.
Speaking after the declaration, Gagdi insisted that the exercise was conducted peacefully and in compliance with party guidelines.
“The primary election was peacefully conducted across the 36 wards in line with the guidelines of our great party,” Gagdi said.
He added that the process was properly monitored and supported with documentary evidence.
“We have accreditation records, photographs, and video evidence to prove the credibility and transparency of the exercise,” he stated.
The lawmaker also dismissed rival results circulating on social media, insisting that one of the announcements lacked legal standing.
“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,” Gagdi said.
He further accused Daspan Ishaya, who earlier announced Tongshinen as winner, of acting without authorization from the APC electoral committee.
Before the latest declaration, several media organisations had reported that Dr. 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 breaking out in different parts of the constituency.
The development has further heightened concerns over internal disagreements and the credibility of the APC’s primary election process in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
