A shocking claim has emerged from Taraba State, where a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), David Kente, says the party didn't conduct House of Representatives primaries on Saturday. Mr Kente, who's also a governorship aspirant, told journalists on Sunday in Jalingo that election materials arrived late. They were distributed only overnight, contradicting video clips circulating on social media that showed voting had already taken place.
He said officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) contacted him around 5 a.m. on Sunday. They announced the commencement of materials distribution at Fastrack Hotel, hours after the alleged voting was said to have occurred. “There was no election anywhere in Taraba yesterday,” Mr Kente said. He explained that materials arrived around 3 p.m. They were shared through the night, yet they were told elections had already taken place in the local government areas and results were written.
Mr Kente also denied withdrawing from the race for any candidate, saying a recent visit to his house by Governor Agbu was misconstrued. “The governor’s visit wasn't unusual,” he said. “We discussed party issues, including the closure of the secretariat, but there wasn't an agreement for me to withdraw. I haven't received money from anyone and can't be induced.”
The APC in Taraba State has rejected Mr Kente’s claims, with the party's spokesperson, Aaron Artimas, describing the allegation that the primaries were not held as false and misleading. Mr Artimas insisted that the APC successfully conducted its primaries across the state. He questioned the credibility of Mr Kente’s account, noting that the aspirant hails from Wukari but was in Jalingo at the time of the primaries. “He's from Wukari and was in Jalingo. How would he know that primaries weren't conducted? What was he doing in Jalingo when he was supposed to be in Wukari, where the primary took place?” the spokesperson asked.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from INEC were unsuccessful, as calls to the commission’s spokesperson in Taraba State, Martins Bandawa, didn't connect. The APC has been conducting its primaries nationwide ahead of the forthcoming elections, amid disputes and legal threats from some aspirants in several states.
“If allowed to contest fairly, I'll defeat him hands down,” Mr Kente said. He added that internal party disputes, particularly over the swearing-in of local government party officials in Ussa, Takum and Donga, could trigger litigation and destabilise the party in the state.
The dispute in Taraba State is a reflection of the larger challenges facing the APC as it navigates its internal elections. The party seeks to present a united front ahead of the general elections. It must contend with the aspirations of its various members, some of whom may feel marginalized or disenfranchised by the party's internal processes.
David Kente is a chieftain of the APC in Taraba State and a governorship aspirant. He claims the party didn't conduct House of Representatives primaries on Saturday. Election materials arrived late and were distributed overnight, according to Mr Kente. The APC in Taraba State has rejected Mr Kente’s claims, describing them as false and misleading. The party's spokesperson, Aaron Artimas, insisted that the APC successfully conducted its primaries across the state.
The situation is still unfolding, and it's unclear how the APC will resolve its internal disputes and present a united front ahead of the forthcoming elections. The party's ability to manage its internal processes and address the concerns of its members will be crucial in determining its success in the polls.
The APC's primaries have been marked by controversy in several states, with some aspirants alleging irregularities and disputing the results. In this context, the dispute in Taraba State isn't an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger pattern of challenges facing the party as it seeks to consolidate its position ahead of the general elections. The party's internal processes are being closely watched, and its ability to resolve these disputes will be key to its success.