A clash erupted on Saturday in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State after members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged irregularities in the party’s House of Representatives primary. The dispute turned violent when aggrieved youths forced the local party chairman, Bashir Jibrin Jaji, into a waiting vehicle, demanding that the election be halted.
According to eyewitnesses, party officials in Igabi were accused of rigging the contest for the federal constituency seat. The primary pitted former local government chairman Sani Abdulkadir Dakaci against former commissioner Hussaini Jalo. Participants claimed that the accreditation process was incomplete and that votes were never counted before the results were announced. Instead, officials allegedly proclaimed Jalo the winner without verification.
Musa Salihu, a party member who was present at the polling venue, said supporters lined up to vote but were never recorded. “We stood in line, but nobody tallied our names. Suddenly they announced that Jalo had won. That is not democracy because no election was conducted,” he told reporters.
The confrontation escalated when youths, upset by what they described as a stolen process, surrounded Chairman Jaji and escorted him to a waiting car. Security personnel attempted to intervene but were overwhelmed by the crowd. No injuries were reported, and the incident concluded with the evacuation of party officials from the site.
The APC’s state leadership has not yet released an official statement, but local sources indicate that the party’s Imo State coordination committee will convene an emergency meeting to investigate the allegations. Party insiders say the primary was meant to be a transparent exercise, yet procedural lapses—such as the absence of accredited voter lists and the lack of a visible tally—fueled suspicion.
Election observers from civil‑society groups have repeatedly warned that intra‑party primaries in Nigeria often become flashpoints for violence when internal mechanisms are weak. The Igabi episode underscores broader concerns about the credibility of candidate selection within major parties, especially in the run‑up to national elections. If unresolved, disputes like this can erode public confidence and impair the parties’ ability to field competitive candidates in general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to monitoring party primaries, but its mandate is limited to ensuring that parties adhere to the legal framework; it does not supervise internal voting procedures. As a result, the onus remains on the parties themselves to enforce transparent and accountable processes.
Stakeholders anticipate that the APC’s internal inquiry will either validate the claims of manipulation or provide evidence of compliance with party rules. Either outcome will shape the party’s standing in Kaduna State, a region where the APC traditionally enjoys strong support. The incident also serves as a cautionary tale for other parties nationwide, highlighting the need for robust accreditation, clear vote‑counting protocols, and effective dispute‑resolution mechanisms.
The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as party officials meet to address the grievances and as law‑enforcement agencies assess whether any criminal conduct occurred during the disturbance.
