Distinguished Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise and representative of Kogi East Senatorial District, has rejected the outcome of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Kogi State, insisting that the exercise was compromised and lacked credibility.
The senator, who is seeking re-election, alleged that the process was marred by irregularities and deliberate manipulation aimed at imposing preferred candidates rather than reflecting the will of party members.
He maintained that in many wards and polling units across Kogi East, no legitimate voting took place, claiming that both Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and APC electoral officers were absent in most locations where delegates were expected to participate.
According to him, the situation suggested that results were pre-arranged and later released from the Government House in Lokoja before being circulated by individuals acting on instructions from influential political actors within the state.
Distinguished Senator Isah said the conduct of the exercise raised serious concerns from the outset, noting that by about 10:00 a.m. on election day, results were already being announced in some areas despite the absence of voting materials and electoral personnel.
“As I speak to you, no election was conducted in my federal constituency. By 10 a.m., results were already being declared in favour of a preferred candidate, yet there were no INEC officials, no APC electoral officers, and no voting materials anywhere,” he said.
He further alleged that what was presented as election results were fabricated figures prepared in advance and distributed to individuals who moved across local government areas announcing them as outcomes of a supposed vote.
“What happened was political robbery. The results were written beforehand and simply read out by people acting out a script. That is not an election,” he stated.
Distinguished Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho) warned that such practices, if not addressed, could undermine confidence in the APC and weaken its support base, particularly at the grassroots level where party loyalty is strongest.
He added that many party members who travelled to participate in the exercise were effectively disenfranchised, as they were unable to access accreditation, voting materials, or election officials at their respective polling points.
The senator called on the national leadership of the APC to urgently step in by cancelling the disputed primary and ordering a fresh, transparent, and credible process across the affected constituencies.
He cautioned that failure to address the situation could damage the party’s image and send a negative signal to loyal supporters ahead of future elections.
Despite his rejection of the outcome, Echocho expressed confidence in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, saying he believes they will intervene appropriately to restore fairness and internal democracy.
He appealed for calm among his supporters across the nine local government areas of Kogi East, urging them to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and patient while political and legal steps are taken to challenge the process.
According to him, all legitimate constitutional and party-based channels are being explored, and he called on supporters to remain united and await further direction from his campaign structure.
The lawmaker reaffirmed that internal democracy must be safeguarded within the APC, stressing that transparency, fairness, and due process are essential for the party’s stability and long-term success.
