News
APC Election Officials Break Silence on Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Primary Dispute
Controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency has taken a new turn, with officials who conducted the exercise alleging attempts by some aggrieved aspirants to undermine the credibility of the election.
The allegations were made on Tuesday during a press briefing in Jos by members of the Forum of Ward Presiding Officers, Local Government Collation Officers and Constituency Collation/Returning Officers.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, its Chairman, Chinwatda Tapar, claimed that some aspirants approached election officials after the May 16, 2026 primary and urged them to sign affidavits containing accounts that contradicted what transpired during the exercise.
According to Tapar, some officials were allegedly offered financial inducements, while others faced intimidation and sustained pressure in a bid to secure their cooperation.
“Our duty was to conduct a free, fair and credible election, not to become instruments in any post-election effort aimed at distorting the truth,” he said.
Tapar explained that the election officials were appointed by the APC National Secretariat through the committee constituted to conduct the party’s 2026 National Assembly primary elections in Plateau State, headed by Hon. Stella Okotete.
He stated that the committee deployed them to oversee the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency primary, which, according to him, was conducted peacefully, transparently and in compliance with the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.
He maintained that the election produced a winner who was duly declared and returned after the collation of results.
The forum further disclosed that it had retained information relating to the alleged approaches made by the aggrieved aspirants and would present the evidence to law enforcement agencies, the APC leadership or any court of competent jurisdiction if required.
The officials urged party members and stakeholders to channel any grievances arising from the primary election through lawful and democratic processes rather than attempting to influence election officials.
“Our responsibility as Ward Presiding Officers, Local Government Collation Officers and Constituency Collation/Returning Officers ended with the successful conduct of the primary election and the declaration of its outcome,” Tapar added.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to truth, fairness, due process and the democratic principles of the APC, insisting that it would not participate in any effort to compromise the integrity of the primary election or distort the facts surrounding its conduct.
Twenty-seven people have died from a suspected diphtheria outbreak in Plateau State, while suspected cases have increased to 303, a state health official has said.
The State Epidemiologist, Maren Damulak, disclosed the figures while speaking with journalists in Jos on Wednesday.
He said most of the suspected cases were recorded in Jos North Local Government Area.
Mr Damulak said 99 per cent of the suspected cases were recorded in Jos North, with Rikkos community among the worst-affected areas.
“As of today, the cases have increased from 149 to 303. The death has also increased from 23 to 27. The high cases of the disease are in Jos North. Ninety-nine per cent of the cases are in Jos North,” he said.
He attributed a significant proportion of the cases to people who had not received diphtheria vaccination and said children constituted a substantial number of those affected.
“Most of the people that were affected were those that did not take diphtheria vaccine. Apart from Jos North, we also have few cases from other LGAs. Children account for a significant proportion of those affected,” he said.
Schools remain closed
The latest figures come days after the Plateau State Government ordered the temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state.
PREMIUM TIMES reported on September 5 that the government directed schools to close from Monday, September 7, following suspected diphtheria cases in Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Wase local government areas.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the measure was intended to prevent further transmission and protect pupils, students and teaching and non-teaching staff.
Schools that had already resumed academic activities were also directed to close and remain shut until further notice.
The government asked school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents and guardians to comply with the directive and ensure that pupils and students remained at home while health authorities strengthened surveillance and response efforts.
Response intensified
The state government has also increased efforts to provide treatment and strengthen disease surveillance in affected communities.
Some patients are receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist Hospital, where isolation facilities have been provided.
In Jos North, the local government council has deployed additional logistics, including motorcycles, to support contact tracing, field surveillance and community mobilisation.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang also directed the immediate mobilisation of drugs and other medical commodities to health facilities to support the response.
The Director-General of the Plateau State Drug and Medical Commodity Management Agency, Kim Bot, said government intervention was already ongoing at JUTH and PSSH and would be extended to other affected facilities.
Mr Bot said the state government responded after receiving reports of the outbreak and was working to ensure that affected health facilities received the necessary medical supplies.
READ ALSO: Plateau buses make face masks compulsory as diphtheria outbreak worsens
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Jos North Local Government, John Christopher, has urged residents to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to reduce the spread of the disease.
Mr Christopher made the call on Wednesday during an assessment of affected communities and a visit to suspected patients receiving treatment at the Primary Healthcare Clinic in Abba Na Shehu Ward.
The rising figures come amid continued efforts by health authorities to contain the outbreak, increase surveillance and encourage residents to seek prompt medical attention and vaccination.
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