El-Kassim, Director of Communications and Research for the Muazu Jaji Campaign Organisation, has dismissed the governorship primary as deeply flawed and lacking credibility, calling on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to annul the outcome and conduct a fresh exercise.
He alleged that the primary, said to have taken place across the state’s 16 local government areas and 168 wards, was riddled with irregularities, including poor accreditation, voter suppression, intimidation, procedural breaches, exclusion of agents, and alleged result manipulation.
According to him, feedback from party agents, field supervisors, and supporters suggests that no credible or verifiable election occurred in several parts of the state.
El-Kassim also highlighted serious procedural failures in Jalingo Local Government Area, citing multiple polling units where due process was reportedly not followed.
He claimed that in locations such as Sintali Ward and polling units around Muhammadu Nya Primary School, Hassan Primary School, Lamorde Primary School, and Sabon Gari Primary School, the exercise was marked by disorder, intimidation, inducement of voters, and eventual abandonment of voting without proper accreditation or lawful balloting.
Furthermore, he alleged that some political office holders and party officials relocated to undisclosed venues, where figures and supposed results were compiled outside the recognised voting process before being taken to a collation centre in Jalingo for announcement.
He also accused officials of denying representatives of a former Minister of Transportation and APGA governorship aspirant access to key stages of collation and result management.
El-Kassim maintained that the exclusion of agents and observers from accreditation, sorting, counting, and collation processes undermined transparency and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the exercise.
He warned that failure to address these concerns could threaten party unity, erode public confidence in the APC’s internal democratic processes, and weaken its prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections in Taraba State.
He therefore urged the APC National Working Committee, the Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, and relevant security agencies to investigate the allegations, nullify the results, sanction those found responsible, and organise a fresh primary in line with the Electoral Act and party guidelines.