The Nasarawa State House of Assembly member representing Eggon East Constituency, Hon. Jacob Ajegena Kudu, has alleged that there was no conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Assembly Primary Election in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the State.
Hon Kudu therefore rejected any attempt to deny his Constituents their democratic rights to free, fair, and credible elections.
Addressing journalists at a Press Conference on Thursday in Lafia, Hon Kudu described the development as a severe blow to internal party democracy, revealing that hundreds of peaceful party faithful and delegates were left stranded at the designated voting venues.
”On the scheduled date for the primary election, party members, delegates, stakeholders, and supporters gathered peacefully with the hope of participating in a transparent and credible electoral process. However, the election was never conducted”, he said.
Narrating the incident, the Lawmaker explained that his search for clarity led him to the Local Government Secretariat, where he discovered that the party’s official structures had been entirely bypassed.
”I was informed that the Returning Officer assigned to supervise and receive election materials was absent. I was further told that the Local Government Chairman was contacted and that he went away with the election materials meant for the conduct of the primary election,” Kudu said.
The lawmaker further claimed that when he reached out to the council boss via telephone to demand an explanation, the chairman offered a flimsy explanation, claiming to be completely out of the area.
He said the incident has raised questions about why election materials would be moved away from the constituency to a different town.
The lawmaker, who is seeking a second term in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, warned that the APC risk harming its own institutional integrity if it allows backroom deals to replace the voice of the electorate.
”This development raises serious concerns about accountability, fairness, transparency, and adherence to due process within the conduct of the exercise.
“Democracy thrives only when internal party processes are conducted fairly and all aspirants are given equal opportunity to participate”, he added.
Hon. Kudu however urged his teeming supporters to remain calm, stressing that he would pursue all available constitutional and administrative channels to rectify the injustice.
”As a committed party man, I remain peaceful, law-abiding, and fully dedicated to the unity and progress of the APC,” Kudu affirmed. ”
The incumbent lawmaker said he has initiated the processes to formally petition the APC hierarchy to step in and save the constituency from an impending leadership crisis.
”I respectfully call on the Appeal Committee and the leadership of our great party to thoroughly investigate this matter and ensure that justice prevails through the conduct of a transparent and credible primary election in Eggon East Constituency,” Kudu pleaded.
Hon. Kudu reassured his constituents that his political resolve remained unshaken by the day’s setbacks.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction to Hon Kudu’s allegations either from the APC State Secretariat or the Local Government Chairman, Barr. Iliya Ibn Aliyu.
