Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Taraba North Senatorial District, along with leaders from the Conference of APC Support Groups, have claimed there are attempts to change the results of the party’s senatorial primary election. They urged the party leadership to respect what they call the mandate of party members.
In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, the stakeholders congratulated Muhammad Bello for becoming the APC senatorial candidate for Taraba North. They said his victory reflects the wishes of party members in the district.
They also congratulated Senator Haruna Manu of Taraba Central and Senator David Jimkuta of Taraba South for being chosen as the party’s senatorial candidates. They pointed out that their victories were announced by the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee and watched by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
But the group claimed that some party members are trying to change the results of the Taraba North primary election. This statement was signed by Abubakar Ibrahim, the Coordinator of Taraba North Stakeholders and Dr. Bilal Galadima, the General Secretary of the Conference of APC Support Groups.
The statement raised concerns that there are efforts to overturn the result already declared in Bello’s favor. The stakeholders called him the preferred candidate of APC members in the district.
“It has come to our attention that certain individuals within the party are allegedly orchestrating clandestine moves to undermine and overturn the credible outcome of the Taraba North primary. There are credible concerns that attempts are being made to reverse the result already declared in favour of Hon. Muhammad Kabir Bello, a candidate widely and overwhelmingly accepted as the people’s choice,” the statement partly read.
The stakeholders insisted that the primary election followed the party’s guidelines and produced a clear winner. They warned that any attempt to change the results would damage trust in the party’s internal democracy.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the will of Taraba North APC members must be respected. The primary election was conducted in accordance with party guidelines, observed by INEC, and produced a clear winner.
“Any attempt to alter, manipulate, or subvert this duly declared mandate will not only violate party rules but will also erode public confidence in our democratic process,” the group stated.
The stakeholders called on INEC to uphold its monitoring report and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
They also urged the APC national leadership to ignore what they called external pressures and recognize the true winner of the primary election.
Additionally, the group appealed to the Taraba State Government to stay neutral and ensure there is no interference in the process.
The statement noted that democracy can only succeed when fairness, transparency, and respect for voters' choices are upheld.
“Any action aimed at disenfranchising Taraba North APC members will be resisted through all lawful and democratic means,” the stakeholders warned.
They called on relevant authorities to act quickly to protect the party's credibility ahead of the general elections. They insisted that the voices of APC members in Taraba North should not be ignored.
Like other major political parties in Nigeria, the APC regularly holds primary elections to choose candidates for various positions before general elections. These exercises often lead to disputes, with dissatisfied aspirants and party stakeholders challenging outcomes through party channels and the courts.
Political analysts have often highlighted the need for transparent and credible primaries, arguing that this process is vital for strengthening internal democracy and reducing conflicts after primaries that could impact the parties' chances in elections.
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