The Divine Mandate for a Renewed Hope Campaign Organization of Hon. Esther Bitrus Danboyi has alleged widespread irregularities in the just-concluded APC House of Representatives primary election for Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, calling on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to investigate the exercise and order fresh elections in affected wards.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing, the Media Director of the campaign organization, Noro Stephen, said the campaign remained committed to democracy, justice, equity, fairness, and the rule of law, but expressed concern over what she described as disruptions and manipulations that marred the primary election process.

Stephen commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau State Governor Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, party members, security agencies, and electoral officials for their roles in ensuring peace during the exercise despite challenges encountered.

She, however, alleged that reports from voters, ward officials, and evidence gathered from the field indicated that the election was characterized by widespread irregularities across several wards in Jos South and Jos East Local Government Areas.

According to her, elections in Jos South LGA were successfully concluded in only five wards including Gyel A, Gyel B, Zawan A, Kuru A, and Kuru B, while other wards reportedly experienced disruptions that allegedly compromised the credibility of the process.

She specifically mentioned Vwang, Turu, Giring, Zawan B, and Bukuru wards, where political thugs allegedly linked to supporters of another aspirant disrupted the process, snatched result sheets, intimidated voters and agents, and interfered with the collation of results.

The campaign organization further alleged that similar incidents occurred in Du District, particularly in Du and Shen wards, where voting was reportedly progressing peacefully before being disrupted.

In Jos East LGA, the campaign claimed that elections were concluded in only three out of the ten federal wards, while wards such as Shere East, Shere West, Federe, Jarawan Kogi, Maijuju Doss, Fobur A, and Fobur B allegedly failed to conduct credible elections due to disruptions and irregularities.

The group maintained that hundreds of party members were disenfranchised, adding that the outcome announced could not be said to reflect the genuine wishes of party members.

Among the concerns raised by the campaign organization were the alleged manipulation and snatching of result sheets, intimidation and harassment of voters, disruption of voting processes, disenfranchisement of party members, and violations of internal party democracy.

The campaign called on the APC National Working Committee to immediately investigate the reported irregularities, review ward reports and testimonies, sanction those responsible for disrupting the process, nullify results from affected wards, and conduct fresh and credible elections where voters were allegedly denied the opportunity to participate.

The organization stressed that its position was not driven by personal animosity but by a commitment to protecting democracy, justice, transparency, and accountability within the party.

“We remain peaceful, law-abiding, and committed to pursuing all constitutional and party mechanisms in seeking redress,” Stephen stated.

Also speaking, Director General of the Campaign Council, Hon. Daniel Kinbeng Mancha, alleged that Hon. Esther Bitrus Danboyi won the primary election conducted on Saturday, May 16, but claimed the process was manipulated in favour of another candidate.

Mancha said the campaign monitored results from across the constituency and believed the outcome did not reflect the actual votes cast. He disclosed that the campaign had already submitted a petition to the APC Appeal Committee and expressed confidence in getting a fair hearing.

The campaign organization called on the APC leadership to act swiftly and impartially in resolving the matter, insisting that justice, fairness, transparency, and accountability must prevail in the interest of democracy and party unity.

The Plateau Initiative for Growth and Development, PIGD, has called on political actors in Plateau State, especially the factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday Biggs, to rise above what it described as unnecessary semantics, huff and puff, and focus on the realities on ground.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Nengak David, the group said Plateau’s political space should not be turned into an arena for tension, distraction or needless verbal confrontation, but should instead become a platform for serious engagement on ideas, vision and practical alternatives for the people of the state.
According to PIGD, Plateau people deserve a contest driven by substance, not noise, adding that any politician seeking to challenge Governor Caleb Mutfwang must be ready to tell citizens what he can do better than the present administration.
“Rather than stir unnecessary tension or engage in political shadowboxing, Sunday Biggs and other political actors should tell Plateau people what they can do better. The issue is not who can shout the loudest, but who can present a clear, realistic and people-centred vision for the state,” David said.
The group commended the Mutfwang administration for what it described as visible and measurable achievements across key sectors, particularly security, health, education, agriculture, transportation, water, energy, tourism and road infrastructure.
PIGD noted that in the area of security, the administration has revamped Operation Rainbow, recruited and trained over 1,500 personnel across communities, commenced the recruitment of 1,000 Forest Guards, launched the State Security and Information Centre with a toll-free line, and invested in security technology, operational vehicles and gadgets to support security agencies.
The group also pointed to major interventions in the health sector, including the recruitment of 22 medical consultants at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, construction of a modern laboratory complex, procurement of laboratory equipment worth over ₦2 billion, introduction of Electronic Medical Records, expansion of residency training and growth in PLASCHEMA enrolment from 93,605 beneficiaries in May 2023 to 319,429 by May 2026.
In education, PIGD said the Mutfwang administration has approved a 50 percent reduction in tuition fees for Plateau indigenes in state-owned tertiary institutions, increased scholarship funding by 300 percent, sponsored students abroad, constructed 397 classrooms, renovated 557 classrooms, drilled boreholes in schools and provided furniture and learning facilities through SUBEB and the AGILE Programme.
David said these achievements were too significant to be dismissed through political rhetoric, stressing that those seeking power must respond with stronger ideas rather than attempts to diminish progress already being recorded.
“It is not enough for anyone to play politics with words. Plateau people are seeing roads, health interventions, school projects, agricultural support, security reforms and efforts to restore the dignity of the state. Anyone seeking to challenge this administration must come with a better plan, not empty rhetoric,” the statement added.
PIGD further praised the administration’s agricultural interventions, including procurement of fertilisers and farming inputs worth over ₦20 billion, support for farmers with improved seedlings and equipment, youth training in modern agriculture, and the establishment of agro-processing zones in Shendam, Mangu and Heipang.
The group also highlighted ongoing road and urban renewal projects across the state, including the Utonkon–Nunku–Keana Road and flyover, Haske Gwafan road links, Jos urban road networks, zonal road projects, rural access roads under RAAMP and NG-CARES, as well as water schemes, solar-powered boreholes, mini-grids and renewable energy initiatives.
PIGD urged Biggs and other PDP actors to avoid statements capable of heating up the polity, warning that Plateau cannot afford political tension at a time citizens are looking for stability, development and responsible leadership.
“Plateau belongs to all of us. The contest for power must not become a contest for bitterness. Let those who want to govern tell the people how they will improve security, create jobs, support farmers, fix roads, strengthen education and expand healthcare. That is the kind of politics Plateau needs now,” David said.
The group reaffirmed its support for issue-based politics and responsible democratic engagement, urging Plateau citizens to demand vision, competence and realistic alternatives from all political actors instead of being distracted by semantics and political noise.