Nasarawa APC tells upset primary aspirants to try again later

The Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has told upset aspirants from the party’s primary elections in Doma South State constituency to accept the results and try again next time.

Augustine Ogaba, the party’s Publicity Secretary, said the State House of Assembly primaries were held peacefully in the constituency. This process led to the selection of the party’s candidate, Musa Ibrahim.

On Saturday, our reporter spoke to Ogaba after a female aspirant, Ebu Onyawoyi-Beauty, rejected the results. She claimed there were irregularities during the primaries.

Ogaba appealed to Onyawoyi-Beauty and other aspirants who did not win to accept the results. He emphasized that the party is like a united family, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to her and the other aspirants to accept the outcome of the primaries. As a party, we are all members of one family, so we should stand by each other and ensure that the party is more strengthened ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Ogaba pointed out that the APC constitution allows only one candidate to emerge per constituency for a four-year term.

But Onyawoyi-Beauty, who ran for the Doma South State constituency seat, rejected the primaries' outcome. She alleged that there were irregularities and manipulation during the process.

Speaking to journalists in Lafia on Saturday, she claimed the election was not held in all four electoral wards of the constituency. She said results were cooked up and the current lawmaker was declared the winner.

She participated in the primaries believing it would be fair. But she insisted that election materials were not sent to the constituency.

Onyawoyi-Beauty called on party leaders, including the APC state and national chairmen, the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, and President Bola Tinubu, to step in and review the process.

“I am calling on the executive governor of Nasarawa State to intervene in this matter. I am also calling on the national chairman of our great party, the APC, and the state chairman to cancel whatever fake results are being presented,” she said.

She demanded that the results be canceled and a new, fair primary election be held in the constituency. She said this new election should be closely monitored by party leaders and security agencies.

“My demand is that a fresh, free, fair, and credible primary election should be conducted so that the popular candidate of the people can emerge,” she said.

Onywoyi-Beauty also mentioned that she has made a big difference in the constituency by helping create jobs and running programs to empower women and youth.

Meanwhile, Musa Abubakar-Imam, the Returning Officer for the APC primary election in the constituency, announced Musa Ibrahim as the winner.

He said Ibrahim got 4,253 votes, beating Onyawoyi-Beauty, who had 275 votes, Bartholomew Ochekpe with 368 votes, and Bello Akunza with 642 votes.