Allegation Of Manipulation, Irregularities Rocks APC Reps Primary In Bauchi Constituency

Allegations of manipulation and irregularities have rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election in Bauchi Federal Constituency, as stakeholders and supporters of the only female aspirant raised concerns over the conduct of the exercise.

A former women leader of the APC in Bauchi State, Hajiya Sa’adatu Mamuda, made the allegation on Saturday night during a press conference in Bauchi alongside supporters of Hajiya Badi’atu Inuwa Siyama, the only female aspirant in the race.

She called on the party leadership to ensure fairness and justice for the aspirant, insisting that supporters were left stranded despite being mobilised for the exercise.

Sa’adatu said the APC had earlier announced that the primary election would hold on Saturday, prompting hundreds of supporters to turn out early in anticipation of voting.

According to her, the supporters waited from about 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. without seeing any electoral officials or voting materials at the designated polling units.

She alleged that several polling centres, including Makama Sarkin Baki, Bakari Dukku, Yamrat Dandango, Liman Katagum, and Birshi Miri, had no presence of electoral officers or election materials throughout the period.

Sa’adatu appealed to the national, state, and local leadership of the APC to intervene and ensure fairness and transparency in the process.

She further urged the party to consider zoning or consensus arrangements in favour of Hajiya Badi’atu Inuwa Siyama, describing her as the only female aspirant in the contest and calling for justice and inclusion.

Also speaking, a supporter of the aspirant, Fatima Abdullahi Ibrahim, expressed concern over what she described as irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.

“We were informed that the primary election would take place on May 16, 2026. However, when we went to our local ward, we did not see any electoral officials or party agents showing readiness to conduct the exercise,” she said.

Fatima called on the APC leadership at all levels to ensure transparency and fairness, while urging greater inclusion of women in elective positions.

“For many years, leadership positions have been dominated by men. We believe this is the time to give women a chance,” she added.

As of Sunday afternoon, neither the APC electoral committee for the House of Representatives primary nor the party’s Bauchi State chapter had officially announced the results of the exercise.

Efforts to obtain reactions from party officials and members of the primary election committee were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

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