ADC Primary: Dalung Cancels Election In Four LGAs

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and Chairman of the electoral committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Solomon Dalung, has cancelled the governorship primary elections conducted in four local government areas of Nasarawa State

Naija News reports that Dalung announced the development while addressing journalists in Lafia at the party’s secretariat on Monday.

He stated that the election was cancelled over alleged irregularities, violence, and other controversies.

Dalung said the affected local government areas are Nasarawa, Doma, Toto, and Karu, each of which recorded different forms of electoral malpractice and disruption.

He said in Doma, no election was conducted, but written results were submitted, while agents confirmed they were not issued carbon copies.

“In Toto, the electoral officers reported being detained by unknown persons in Keffi from noon to 10 p.m. and later presented results obtained under those circumstances.

“In Nasarawa LGA, materials were distributed at a vigilante post, but the officer said he was not allowed to proceed and was later given the results.

“In Karu, violence preceded the election, and the party chairman was attacked. The electoral officer abandoned the process, and an unauthorised person later submitted results,” he said.

Dalung explained that under ADC’s direct primary guidelines, two key conditions must be met for results to be valid, including evidence of physical counting of party members and a corresponding result sheet.

He said, “If there is no evidence of physical counting, direct primaries do not take place. The motto of the ADC guidelines states that the electoral committee shall not recognise or accept any election where members of the party were not physically counted.”

He also cited Section 10 of the Electoral Act, noting that unauthorised possession of electoral materials is an offence punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of  ₦10 million.

The committee chairman, however, said he had already collated results from nine local government areas and was awaiting returns from the remaining four.

He added that a full report detailing the irregularities would be submitted to the ADC national secretariat for further action.

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