APC Aspirant Raises Alarm Over Alleged Failure to Hold Primary

Election in Jalingo Constituency

An aspirant of the All Progressives Congress for the Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing Federal Constituency seat, Leah Solomon, has questioned the alleged absence of primary election activities across the constituency, raising concerns about transparency and internal democracy within the party.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Solomon claimed that party members and supporters who gathered across designated voting centres in Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing Local Government Areas were left waiting for several hours without any indication that the direct primary election process would begin.

According to the APC aspirant, supporters and stakeholders arrived at polling centres expecting to participate in the party’s direct primary election exercise but reportedly found no signs of electoral activity.

Solomon stated that after personally monitoring several wards and voting centres within the constituency, she observed that there was no accreditation of voters, no voting process, and no distribution of election materials as required for the conduct of the primaries.

She described the situation as disappointing and capable of creating confusion among party members who had turned out peacefully to exercise their democratic rights.

In her statement, Solomon said:

“Party members and supporters waited for several hours at designated locations without the commencement of any electoral activity.”

She further called on the leadership of the APC at the local, state, and national levels to provide clarity regarding the situation and explain why the exercise allegedly failed to take place.

The aspirant stressed the importance of fairness, transparency, and accountability during the party’s internal electoral process, warning that unresolved irregularities could weaken confidence among party faithful ahead of future elections.

Despite expressing dissatisfaction over the development, Solomon urged her supporters and APC members in the constituency to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding while awaiting official communication from party authorities.

She also reaffirmed her commitment to democratic principles and peaceful political participation within the party structure.

The controversy comes at a time when political parties across Nigeria are conducting primary elections ahead of future legislative and national contests. Primary elections are crucial internal exercises through which political parties select candidates who will represent them during general elections.

In recent weeks, several APC primary elections in different states have faced allegations ranging from manipulation and irregularities to complaints over delegate selection and voting procedures. Some aspirants in various constituencies have accused party officials of failing to follow agreed guidelines during the nomination process.

Political analysts believe disputes arising from party primaries often play a major role in post-election legal battles and internal divisions within political parties. In many cases, disagreements over candidate selection have led to defections, litigation, and prolonged political crises.

The alleged situation in the Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing Federal Constituency may therefore increase pressure on the APC leadership to address concerns quickly in order to avoid further tensions among party members in Taraba State.

Observers also note that transparent and credible primary elections are increasingly becoming a major test for political parties seeking to strengthen internal democracy and public trust ahead of national elections.

For many grassroots members, participation in party primaries represents an important opportunity to influence candidate selection and shape the political direction of their constituencies. Any disruption or lack of clarity during the process is often viewed as a threat to democratic participation within the party system.

The concerns raised by Leah Solomon over the alleged absence of primary election activities in the Jalingo Federal Constituency have added to growing conversations surrounding transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s political party primaries.

While the APC leadership has yet to officially respond to the allegations, party members and political observers will be closely watching how the situation is handled in the coming days.

The development highlights the importance of credible internal electoral processes as political parties prepare for future elections across the country.