Allegations of widespread manipulation and irregularities have cast a shadow over the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election in the Bauchi Federal Constituency. Stakeholders and supporters of Hajiya Badi’atu Inuwa Siyama, the sole female aspirant in the race, have vehemently expressed their concerns regarding the conduct of the exercise.

Hajiya Sa’adatu Mamuda, a former women leader of the APC in Bauchi State, spearheaded these accusations during a press conference held on Saturday night in Bauchi. Flanked by numerous supporters of Hajiya Siyama, she implored the party leadership to ensure fairness and justice for the aspirant, highlighting that supporters, despite being mobilized, were left stranded without the opportunity to vote.

Mamuda recounted that the APC had previously announced the primary election would take place on Saturday. This announcement prompted hundreds of enthusiastic supporters to gather early at their designated polling units, eager to participate. However, their anticipation turned into frustration as they waited from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. without any electoral officials or voting materials appearing at the sites. She specifically cited several polling centres, including Makama Sarkin Baki, Bakari Dukku, Yamrat Dandango, Liman Katagum, and Birshi Miri, as having no presence of electoral officers or election materials throughout the day.

In her appeal, Sa’adatu urged the national, state, and local leadership of the APC to promptly intervene and guarantee fairness and transparency in the electoral process. She further advocated for the party to consider implementing zoning or consensus arrangements in favor of Hajiya Badi’atu Inuwa Siyama, emphasizing her unique position as the only female aspirant in the contest and calling for equitable treatment and inclusion.

Echoing these sentiments, Fatima Abdullahi Ibrahim, another ardent supporter of Hajiya Siyama, voiced her deep concern over what she termed glaring irregularities. Ibrahim mentioned, "We were informed that the primary election would take place on Saturday. However, when we went to our local ward, we did not see any electoral officials or party agents showing readiness to conduct the exercise.” She also called upon the APC leadership across all tiers to uphold transparency and fairness, and crucially, advocated for greater representation and inclusion of women in elective positions, stating, "For many years, leadership positions have been dominated by men. We believe this is the time to give women a chance."

As of Sunday afternoon following the contentious Saturday, there had been no official announcement of the primary election results from either the APC electoral committee for the House of Representatives primary or the party’s Bauchi State chapter. Attempts to solicit reactions from party officials and members of the primary election committee remained unsuccessful at the time this report was compiled.