Retired Commodore Yilchini Jan Bida, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, has officially rejected the outcome of the party’s governorship primary election, calling the process unfair and demanding a full investigation into alleged irregularities. In a statement released in Jos on Saturday, Bida said he consulted widely with his campaign team, legal advisers, agents, and stakeholders across all 17 local government areas of the state before making his position public. He stated clearly and unequivocally that he rejects both the declared results and the flawed process that produced them.
Bida accused the APC of conducting a primary election riddled with irregularities, lack of transparency, and the exclusion of his agents from critical stages of the exercise. He noted that his agents arrived early at the APC state secretariat, only to find no election activities taking place for several hours. He further alleged that the voting was later moved to a hotel, where electoral materials were distributed without the presence of his representatives, undermining the integrity of the process.
The retired naval officer also highlighted widespread disenfranchisement across the state, stating that party members waited at designated polling centres in various areas, only to be left without officials or materials. He personally experienced this issue when he travelled to his ward in Nemel, Kanke Local Government Area, to vote, but found no electoral materials or officials present. This, he said, rendered him unable to cast his ballot.
Bida questioned the credibility of the results, calling them unrealistic and pointing to a voting pattern that appeared too uniform to be genuine. He suggested this uniformity could indicate possible manipulation of figures. He called for an independent review of the results using statistical tools to verify their authenticity and ensure transparency.
He also accused the party of excluding his team from the collation and declaration of results, which he said violated standard electoral procedures. Bida urged the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene and investigate the conduct of the primary to safeguard the party’s internal democracy. While appealing to his supporters to remain calm, he affirmed his intention to pursue legal and constitutional remedies to seek redress.
Meanwhile, the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, led by Returning Officer Fidelis Mnyim, declared Caleb Mutfwang the winner with 233,335 votes, while Bida received 3,070 votes. The outcome has now sparked calls for accountability and transparency within the party as the race for the Plateau State governorship moves toward the general election. The coming days may see legal challenges and internal party deliberations that could shape the political landscape in the state.
Leave a Comment