Supporters Clash During Recount As Security Operatives Rescue Electoral Officials
Tension erupted during the All Progressives Congress direct primary election for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State after suspected thugs disrupted the counting of votes at the collation centre in Jos South Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening at RCM Primary School, Zarmaganda, where party officials had gathered to collate and recount votes following disagreements between supporters of two leading aspirants, former House of Representatives member Dachung Baggos and Hon. Esther Dung.
According to party sources, the crisis started shortly after electoral officials began a recount of votes after supporters of Baggos challenged the initial declaration of Esther Dung as winner of the exercise.
Sources disclosed that the recount process initially began peacefully, with officials counting votes already recorded for some aspirants.
During the exercise, Dachung Baggos reportedly polled 570 votes while another aspirant, identified as Arum, secured 66 votes.
However, tension escalated when officials moved to begin counting votes credited to Esther Dung.
At that point, suspected thugs reportedly stormed the venue and forcefully demanded that the counting process should stop immediately.
An APC official, Nandom Paul, confirmed that confusion broke out at the collation centre after supporters of Baggos rejected the earlier result and insisted on a recount to verify the figures announced by electoral officials.
According to him, supporters of Esther Dung strongly opposed the recount, arguing that many accredited voters, especially women, had already cast their votes and left the venue before the dispute started.
Paul explained that electoral officials repeatedly appealed to both camps to remain calm while assuring everyone that the process would remain transparent and credible.
Despite the appeals, both factions reportedly refused to back down, creating a tense atmosphere around the collation centre.
The situation later degenerated into chaos after suspected thugs suddenly invaded the venue and disrupted the counting process, forcing party officials, electoral officers and supporters to flee for safety.
Security operatives were later deployed to the scene to restore order and safely evacuate electoral officials from the troubled venue.
The disruption occurred as the APC continues its nationwide primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, in a related development within the same Jos South Local Government Area, another APC primary election held at Zawan A Ward produced a different outcome.
At the ward exercise, Esther Bitrus reportedly emerged victorious after polling 316 votes to defeat Dachung Baggos, who secured 130 votes, while another aspirant, Ajiji, received only two votes out of a total of 448 votes cast.
A monitor who observed the Zawan A Ward primary, Jude Dalyop, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and credible.
According to him, agents representing all aspirants were present throughout the voting process and actively participated without any major disagreement or disruption.
The APC is expected to conclude collation and officially announce final results for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency after results from all wards are fully compiled.
