Transportation difficulties and the late arrival of sensitive election materials disrupted the commencement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primary elections in Taraba State, raising concerns among party members and stakeholders over the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Key Highlights:
- APC National Assembly primaries in Taraba State were disrupted due to transportation challenges and late arrival of election materials from Abuja.
- Committee chairman Tsenongo Abancha said the delay was caused by limited travel options and logistical constraints.
- He apologized to party members, noting that only one available flight arrived late, affecting the start of the exercise.
- Despite the setback, the committee assured stakeholders that the process would remain transparent and could extend into the night or next day due to the state’s vast geography.
- Taraba APC leaders, including state chairman Abubakar Bawa, expressed support for the process and confidence it would produce credible candidates ahead of the general elections.
The Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Taraba State, Mr. Tsenongo Abancha, blamed the delay on travel constraints from Abuja, explaining that members of the committee were unable to arrive earlier due to limited transportation options into the state.
Addressing journalists in Jalingo over the weekend, Abancha offered an apology to party supporters and residents, insisting that the delay was beyond the committee’s control.
“I want to first of all apologize to the people of Taraba for arriving very late. It was not intentional because Taraba is quite far from Abuja and we could not come by road,” he stated.
According to him, the only available flight into Taraba arrived late, affecting both the movement of committee members and the delivery of election materials needed for the conduct of the primaries.
The development reportedly created anxiety among aspirants and party faithful who had gathered across various locations in anticipation of the exercise.
Despite the setback, Abancha reassured stakeholders that the committee remained committed to conducting a transparent and credible process in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
“We are glad that the process is starting in earnest. I want to assure members of the press and the people of Taraba that it is going to be a smooth operation,” he said.
He further disclosed that the exercise may extend beyond one day because of the state’s vast geographical spread and the logistics involved in reaching all designated areas.
“The process can continue throughout the night and even spill over to the next day because of the long distances involved across the state,” he explained.
Responding to concerns about possible irregularities, the committee chairman dismissed fears of manipulation, stressing that the process would remain transparent and open to scrutiny.
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“We are going to be transparent, objective, honest and clear with what we are doing. The forms are here and, as you can see, they have not been tampered with,” Abancha added.
The APC in Taraba state has adopted the direct primary method for the selection of aspirants contesting House of Representatives seats, a process that allows party members to vote directly for their preferred candidates.
Political observers say the conduct of the primaries will be closely monitored as the ruling party intensifies preparations ahead of the next general elections.
Meanwhile, the Taraba state APC Chairman, Abubakar Bawa, welcomed the committee members upon arrival and assured them of the party’s cooperation to ensure a peaceful and successful exercise.
Bawa expressed optimism that the primaries would produce credible candidates capable of strengthening the party’s chances in the forthcoming elections.
The delayed commencement of the exercise has once again highlighted the logistical difficulties often associated with political activities in parts of the country, particularly in states with limited transportation access and challenging terrain.
