By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi, Nigeria, May 21, 2026(Series News Online) — Members of the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State on Thursday marched through the state capital to demand transparency in the party’s forthcoming governorship primary election.
The protesters, who identified themselves as supporters of gubernatorial aspirant Nura Manu Soro, converged on Bauchi metropolis carrying APC membership cards and placards. They urged the committee saddled with conducting the primaries to comply strictly with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
A Director of the Nura Manu Soro Campaign Organisation for 2027, Dr. Auwalu Babajada, told journalists that the demonstration was prompted by fears of possible irregularities in the process.
“We mobilised this crowd because we have observed that the conduct of primaries is no longer what it used to be,” Babajada said. “Some individuals now sit comfortably at home and decide the fate of aspirants without following due process.”
Babajada disclosed that the campaign organisation provided logistics to convey members from all 212 wards across the state to the capital to safeguard the credibility of the exercise.
“The aim is for party members to accompany election materials back to their respective wards so that the exercise can be conducted transparently and without fear of manipulation,” he said.
He insisted that the protest was peaceful and intended to protect the democratic rights of party members.
“We are here for peace, unity, and justice. Since the arrival of our supporters, there has been no incident of violence or disorder,” Babajada stated.
He alleged that there were plots by certain individuals to compromise the process through the unauthorised movement of result sheets and the announcement of results outside designated collation centres.
“If the process is truly free and fair, there should be no reason to hide election materials,” he said. “Agents of all the aspirants should be allowed to monitor the process from the wards up to the final collation.”
Babajada added that Soro’s supporters would accept the outcome of the primary if the process was credible.
“Whoever emerges victorious through a fair process will be accepted by all of us,” he said.
Also addressing the crowd, Dr. Hassan Aliyu Abdullahi said many protesters were aggrieved over the conduct of the recent National Assembly primaries in the state.
He alleged that elections were not properly conducted in several constituencies and warned against a repeat during the governorship primary.
“The officials and some individuals within the APC are afraid because they lack grassroots support and want to impose a candidate on the people,” Abdullahi said. “That is unacceptable in Bauchi State.”
Abdullahi appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to intervene and ensure a level playing field.
He noted that the party was grappling with internal challenges across Northern Nigeria.
“The APC is already facing internal challenges across Northern Nigeria and should focus on resolving the crisis rather than worsening it,” Abdullahi said.
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