Bida Rejects Plateau APC Gubernatorial Primary Results, Calls for Investigation

Retired Commodore Yilchini Jan Bida, a gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, has formally rejected the results of the party’s governorship primary, calling the process “unfair” and demanding a full investigation.

Bida issued a statement in Jos on Saturday after extensive consultations with his campaign team, legal advisers, agents, and stakeholders from all 17 local government areas of the state. He declared, “I state clearly and unequivocally that I reject in totality the declared results and the flawed process from which they emerged.”

The former naval officer alleged that the primary was marred by irregularities, a lack of transparency, and the exclusion of his representatives from key stages. He said that although his agents arrived early at the APC state secretariat, no voting activities took place there for hours. The exercise was reportedly moved to a hotel, where electoral materials were allegedly shared without the presence of his team. In several parts of the state, party members waited at designated centres but no voting occurred because officials and materials never arrived.

Bida also recounted a personal experience: “I travelled to my ward in Nemel, Kanke Local Government Area, to cast my vote but I was completely disenfranchised as no materials or officials showed up.”

He questioned the credibility of the results, describing them as unrealistic. “The voting pattern across the state looked too uniform to be genuine, suggesting possible manipulation of figures,” he said. Bida called for an independent review of the results using statistical tools to verify their authenticity and accused the party of excluding his team during the collation and declaration of results, contrary to expected electoral procedures.

Bida urged the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene and investigate the conduct of the primary to safeguard the party’s internal democracy. While asking supporters to remain calm, he added that he would pursue legal and constitutional remedies to seek redress.

According to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer Fidelis Mnyim, Caleb Mutfwang was declared the winner of the primary after polling 233,335 votes, while Bida received 3,070 votes.