By Muhammad Tanko Shittu —
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has overturned the earlier outcome of its Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency primary election in Plateau State, declaring incumbent lawmaker, Yusuf Gagdi, as the authentic winner of the exercise.
The reversal was announced on Monday at the APC state secretariat in Jos by the Chairman of the APC Plateau State Primaries Electoral Committee, Stella Okotete, who disowned the earlier declaration that named John Tongshinen as winner.
Ms Okotete described the initial result announcement as unauthorised, insisting that only the officially appointed returning officer had the constitutional authority to declare the outcome of the primary election.
“Only the officially appointed returning officer, Nandom Kura, has the constitutional authority to declare the results of the primary election,” she stated.
She added that any declaration made outside that mandate remained invalid and should be disregarded.
Following the clarification, the committee’s returning officer, Nandom Kura, formally declared Mr Gagdi winner of the APC primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency conducted on Saturday.
The development came barely 24 hours after another result announced at the constituency headquarters in Pankshin by Monday Daspan declared Dr Tongshinen winner with 29,968 votes against Gagdi’s 5,849 votes.
In the earlier announcement, Daspan had claimed he was acting under powers conferred on him as chairman of the committee and declared Tongshinen winner based on records available to him.
He also stated that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security personnel monitored the exercise.
However, Mr Gagdi, who currently chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, rejected the earlier declaration and insisted the primary election was duly conducted across all 36 wards in the constituency.
Addressing journalists in Jos after he was confirmed winner, the lawmaker said the exercise was backed by accreditation records, photographs, and video evidence to demonstrate its credibility.
He dismissed claims of multiple results, saying he was only aware of two announcements, one of which had now been declared illegitimate by the party.
Mr Gagdi further alleged that the earlier declaration credited to Daspan was fraudulent, arguing that the individual was not appointed by the electoral committee and therefore lacked the authority to announce the result.
“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 said.
The lawmaker also questioned the credibility of the earlier announcement, alleging inconsistencies surrounding the role played by the individual during the conduct of the exercise.
The latest declaration sparked celebrations in parts of Kanam and Pankshin, where supporters of the lawmaker reportedly trooped out in jubilation following the announcement.
The Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency seat is considered one of the key contests in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
