APC female candidate seeks clarification on Taraba Reps primary cancellation

Liya Samuel Lucy, a female candidate for the House of Representatives seat representing the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State, has voiced concerns about the All Progressives Congress (APC) failing to hold its primary election on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Lucy said that she and other party members waited all day for officials from the APC National Secretariat to conduct the primary, but the election never took place.

Reports indicate that the party’s electoral committee and election materials arrived in Jalingo, the state capital, at about 3 pm on Saturday. The late arrival reportedly made it difficult to distribute materials to the 168 wards across the state before the day’s close.

Speaking to journalists, Lucy urged the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to intervene and instruct the Taraba State electoral committee to officially brief aspirants on the situation and the next steps.

She lamented that since the committee’s arrival, aspirants have not received any official communication about a postponement or possible rescheduling of the primary.

According to Lucy, the lack of information constitutes an infringement on aspirants’ rights, and she stressed that party members deserve clear information about the electoral process.

Lucy further added that, as Nigeria’s ruling party, the APC should demonstrate transparency and credibility in its internal elections so that other parties may follow suit.

“I am calling on the National Chairman of our great party, the APC, to ensure that a new date is fixed and properly communicated to all aspirants in the state. The silence from the electoral committee is not good enough for us as aspirants,” she said.

“The committee arrived in the state and proceeded to meet with the State Working Committee, but we have not heard from them. There was no press briefing explaining why the election did not hold on Saturday, and they did not inform the people of Taraba State when the election would be conducted,” Lucy added.

“We are completely in the dark about the entire process, and we need clarification from the National Chairman,” she concluded.