Protest rocks Plateau APC over imposition of candidates ahead of LG election

APC members across the 20 wards of Quanpan Local Government Area of Plateau State including LG Aspirants on Thursday stormed the APC Secretariat in Quapan Local Government and protested the non-conduct of the Local Government Primaries and also alleged rumours of imposition of one of the aspirant as the candidate of the party ahead of the october election in the state.

The APC protesters from the 20 wards besieged the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Quapan to express their grievances against non conduct of the primaries election.

The protesters sang protest songs, displayed placards with inscription, “there was no election in Quapan, conduct APC primaries election Quapan, we wont accept imposition of candidate in Quapan, there was no election”.

One of the aspirant and strong member of the APC in Quapan, Hon. Mrs Magdalene Naanyil Dakogol who spoke on behalf of other aspirants while addressing newsmen at the APC Secretariat said all the APC members in 20 wards of the Local government have been waiting for the officials saddled with the responsibility to conduct the primaries election, but they are yet to be seen since Wednesday, but they are surprised that rumours are going round that one of the aspirant, Mr Da’a Ernest has been elected.

“We want to mention here clearly that there was no direct primaries based on the guidelines of the APC conducted anywhere in the 20 wards of the Quapan Local government and we will not accept the imposition of any candidate, let there free and fair election whosoever wins so be it, but as far as we are concerned, no election has been conducted in the entire Quapan Local Government area.

“We want to appeal to our Governor, Barr. Simon Lalong to please direct for the conduct of the primaries in Quapan LGC”.

Hon. Naanyil who is also from Namu Central Ward pleaded with the Governor as a father of the party and on the interest of fair play ensure that the election officials conduct the APC primaries elections in Quapan Local Government.

Also Speaking an APC Chieftain in the Local Government from Kwande Ward Hon. Ado Ali Katyen said, “To the best of my knowledge there was no conduct of APC primaries in Quapan and we appeal to His Excellency Governor Lalong to please call those who want to spoil his name to order because lack of transparency is capable of undermining the peace in Quapan”.

Other APC members who spoke during the protest in Quapan, Mr Zakaria Namu and Matthew Yama said they will not accept any injustice in Quapan, “All we demand for is for the party to conduct Primaries for us in Quapan Local, as far as we are concerned no election has been conducted here, we are here from 20 wards that make up the local government demanding for the conduct of primaries for us to produce the candidate that we want”

Meanwhile the State All Progressives Congress (APC) Plateau State chapter has appealed for calm amongst its members and immediately sets up appeal panel across the 17 LGC of the State.

Secretary of the Caretaker Committee in Plateau State Mallam Bashir Musa Sati in a press statement issued on Friday in Jos to Journalists urged APC members to channel their complaints arising from the primaries to the appeal panel at the party Secretariat.

“Following the successful conduct of the APC primary elections, our attention has been drawn to an unauthorized circulation of fake list of purported winners of the elections on social media”.

He urged members of the party to disregard the message and avoid making statements that will promote the agenda of mischief makers.

Sati assured all APC members that as a listening party all complaints and grievance will be properly addressed, saying they should remain calm and law abiding.