APC reverses Plateau Reps primaries, declares Gagdi winner

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has overturned the earlier outcome of its Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) House of Representatives primaries in Plateau State, declaring incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi as the authentic winner.

The decision was announced on Monday at the APC Plateau State Secretariat in Jos by the Chairman of the party’s Primaries Electoral Committee, Stella Okotete, who said the earlier declaration of results was unauthorised and invalid.

Okotete explained that only the officially appointed returning officer had the authority to announce election results, stressing that any prior announcement outside that mandate should be disregarded.

She added that the recognised returning officer, Nandom Kura, had now officially declared Gagdi as the winner of the exercise conducted on Saturday.

“Only the officially appointed returning officer has the constitutional authority to declare results. Any prior announcements are invalid,” she said.

Earlier, results had been announced at the constituency headquarters in Pankshin by a returning officer, Monday Daspan, who declared John Tongshinen winner with 29,968 votes against Gagdi’s 5,849 votes.

However, the APC committee dismissed that announcement, insisting it was not in line with party guidelines and lacked official authorisation.

Following the fresh declaration, Gagdi, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, was confirmed as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

Addressing journalists in Jos, Gagdi said the primary was conducted across all 36 wards with proper documentation, including accreditation records, videos, and photographs.

He rejected the earlier result, insisting there was only one legitimate declaration, while describing the other as “fraudulent” and lacking constitutional backing.

He further argued that only officials appointed by the electoral committee have the authority to conduct and announce primary election results.

The controversy over the PKK primary has sparked mixed reactions within the constituency, with reports of jubilation in parts of Kanam and Pankshin following the latest announcement.

The seat remains one of the key political contests in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.