Jalingo – The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Taraba State, Tsenongo Abancha, said logistical problems delayed the start of the party’s primary election exercise in the state. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Abancha attributed the postponement to transportation difficulties travelling from Abuja and the late arrival of election materials.
“The delay was not intentional,” Abancha explained. “Taraba is far from Abuja and the only flight that could bring us in arrived late, which also held up the delivery of the sensitive documents we need for the exercise.” He apologized to party members and residents for the setback.
Despite the hiccup, the committee chair affirmed that the primaries will be conducted in strict accordance with the APC constitution, promising a transparent, peaceful and credible process. “We are now beginning the exercise in earnest. I want to assure the press and the people of Taraba that it will be a smooth operation,” he said.
Abancha noted that the voting schedule may extend beyond a single day because of the state’s large geographic spread. “The process can continue through the night and may spill over to the next day due to the long distances involved across the state,” he added.
Addressing concerns about possible manipulation, he emphasized that the proceedings would remain open and verifiable. “We are being transparent, objective and honest. The forms are here and have not been tampered with,” he confirmed.
The APC in Taraba has adopted a direct primary system to select its candidates for the House of Representatives. Earlier, state APC chairman Abubakar Bawa welcomed the committee members and pledged the party’s full support to ensure a successful exercise, expressing confidence that the primaries would produce credible candidates ahead of the general election.
The committee’s clarification comes as the party moves to complete its internal elections, which are essential for finalising ticket line‑ups and maintaining cohesion ahead of national polls. Stakeholders will be watching the rollout closely to gauge the APC’s organisational capacity and its ability to deliver a credible nomination process in a challenging logistical environment.
