APC Mikang Assembly Primaries Collapse Amid Widespread Irregularities, Fresh Vote Demanded

Timescope News 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly primaries in Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State have been declared inconclusive after voting failed to take place in multiple wards, sparking allegations of malpractice and the disappearance of election materials.

The primaries, intended to select the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections, were marred by the absence of electoral officers in several locations, including Tunkus, Koenem, and Garkawa wards.

Barrister Naanniep S. Pingwai, the APC Legal Adviser for Plateau State and an indigene of Lalin Ward, alleged that election materials were carted away by some officials, including a state commissioner. He claimed that only Piapung Ward recorded any semblance of voting across the entire local government area.

“I remained at the Lalin Ward voting venue from 10 a.m. until nearly 6 p.m., but the electoral officer failed to commence the exercise,” Pingwai said. “It was glaringly shown that one of the aspirants was to be defeated. Some people just sat somewhere, wrote results, and took them wherever they wanted.”

He received reports and evidence from more than five wards where no election was conducted and insisted that the party leadership must order a fresh exercise in all affected wards to allow delegates to freely participate.

Another party stakeholder, Boayi, called on the APC leadership and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to intervene by constituting a neutral committee to supervise a fresh and credible process. He warned that imposing a candidate not chosen by delegates could hurt the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.

“Let the people be allowed to make their choice. It shouldn’t be the choice of a few persons,” Boayi appealed. He urged officials to either organize a fresh election or conclude the process in wards where voting did not take place, including Garkawa and Tunkus.

Journalists who monitored the exercise across several wards reported seeing no electoral materials at designated voting centres. In addition, unconfirmed reports alleged that the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Caroline Dafur, alongside some stakeholders, moved election materials and assigned officials to an undisclosed location.