The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election commenced amid delays and confusion in parts of Taraba State on Monday, as party members waited for hours for the arrival of election materials and officials.
As of 3:40 p.m., most card-carrying members of the party were still stranded at designated voting centres across Jalingo and adjoining wards, while party officials insisted the exercise was ongoing statewide.
LEADERSHIP gathered that voting was allegedly being conducted in some wards linked to aspirants from the senatorial districts, while several other wards had yet to receive materials or electoral officials.
At Mohammed Nya Nursery and Primary School, the collection centre for Turaki Ward in Jalingo, party members were seen waiting anxiously for the commencement of the exercise.
Speaking to journalists, Nurudeen Mohammed Boyi, Sarkin Matasa of Angwan Turaki and a grassroots mobiliser, criticised the delay, describing the process as a routine and disorganised primary election.
Similarly, at Lamorde Primary School in Sarkin Dawaki Ward, voters expressed frustration over the prolonged wait.
A former councillor in the ward and council member in Jalingo Local Government Area, Hon. Bala Maina, said party members remained determined to participate despite the delay.
“We will wait till 8 p.m. because we believe the exercise will eventually take place. We were informed that the election materials were hijacked,” he alleged.
According to him, party supporters had remained at the venue for over two hours in anticipation of voting for their preferred aspirant, Kabiru Bello Badawaire.
Also speaking, a party member, Mrs. Bilkisu Zubairu, said they had arrived at the venue as early as 9 a.m. but were repeatedly asked to wait.
“They initially told us to wait till 11 a.m. and later shifted it to 2 p.m. We are still here because we want to vote for our preferred candidate,” she said.
She further alleged that some youths were sponsored to disrupt the exercise, adding that “we will not be afraid of their threats.”
A physically challenged party member, Jeremiah Ubandoma, blamed the delay on the party’s electoral committee, saying the development reflected the wider challenges facing internal democracy in the country.
“What is happening shows that the next four years may be tougher if things continue this way. This process is supposed to allow party members to choose candidates freely, but the masses are often shortchanged,” he said.
Ubandoma also alleged that the delay was linked to efforts by some incumbents seeking to retain political control.
However, the APC Publicity Secretary in Taraba State, Mr. Aaron Artimas, dismissed speculations that the exercise had failed, insisting that elections were taking place across the state.
According to him, election materials were initially distributed at Fast Track Hotel before being moved to various wards.
Artimas, however, declined further comments, citing directives from the party’s national headquarters.
