Confusion has enveloped the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in Plateau State after two competing results were released by different returning officers. One declaration named incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Adamu Gagdi the winner, while another announced that the former two‑term representative had been defeated.
The first result, announced on Sunday by APC Returning Officer Nandom Andrew Kura, showed Gagdi with 29,207 votes, far ahead of his opponents: Henry Jan (293 votes), Chrisenthus Zhiphion (848 votes), Abbas Wakdum (430 votes) and John Gozhak (372 votes). Kura’s statement was part of a broader release that also confirmed the victories of former House Deputy Speaker Ahmad Idris Wase in Wase Federal Constituency and the consensus selection of Sadeq Shuaibu, known as “Plaza,” for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.
A separate declaration issued in Pankshin by Chairman of another Electoral Committee Daspan Ishaya contradicted Kura’s figures. Ishaya announced Dr John Tongshinen as the winner, attributing 29,968 votes to him and recording only 5,849 votes for Gagdi.
The conflicting announcements have sparked uncertainty among party members and voters, with APC officials yet to clarify which result is official. The party’s national secretariat has been urged to intervene and resolve the discrepancy before the general election timetable progresses.
Stakeholders in the constituency expressed concern that the dual declarations could undermine confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes. Observers note that similar disputes have emerged in other APC primaries across the country, highlighting broader challenges in the party’s vote‑counting and result‑announcing mechanisms.
The APC is expected to convene an emergency meeting of its state executives to reconcile the divergent tallies and issue a definitive list of candidates. Until a consensus is reached, the status of the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam ticket remains unsettled, leaving the constituency’s electorate without a clear party nominee heading into the upcoming general election.
