Plateau APC Guber Primary Election: Dakum Calls It, ‘Highly Compromised’ As Delegates Were Intimidated
The Oasis Reporters
May 29, 2022
By Asile Abel, Jos
One of the leading All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants
in the just concluded primary elections held on Thursday 26th May, 2022 in Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Patrick Sunday Dakum has said the election was not only highly compromised, but equally marred with intimidation of delegates by top government officials in the State as well as being coupled with other avoidable irregularities that tampered with its integrity.
Dakum made this assertion known while addressing newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
According to the public health expert, the election was not a true reflection of the minds of the delegates and party faithfuls, as it fell short of what is expected of an election that ought to have been transparent, free, fair and credible.
Dr Patrick Sunday Dakum appreciated all those involved in the “Consolidation Movement”, saying the goal of going into the contest for the governorship contest is borne out of a deep passion for Plateau State, inclusivity in the governance of the State and a desire not to “throw the baby with the bath water”.
According to Dakum, every government that has come on the Plateau has excellent points and things they have done and that he was ready to take the best practices from past governments and consolidate them into a programme that will use outcome-driven implementation process in order to move development faster.
His words, “For me as a child of God, I have always known that the destiny of Plateau State and ours as individuals is in the hands of God, so for me circumstances do not change what comes out from the inside” .
The aspirant said if he is unhappy, that will be for the fact that development may be taken ten years backward and the people will be responsible for truncating development for not doing the right things they ought to have been done.
Dr Dakum recounted the experiences throughout the campaign period and the primaries, how the list of delegates were not disclosed to the aspirants and were later told a few days prior to the primaries that the delegates were to be accommodated by the government.
Dr Patrick Sunday Dakum hinted that he toured all the 17 Local Government Areas in the State twice, met with party officials, discussed his plans for the State and sought their support, a feat no other aspirant could achieve.
Dr Dakum said the APC had the opportunity to field the candidate that will not be difficult to sell.
Dakum said during the primaries, he was shocked that in the Local Government Area that started the election (Qua’an-Pan LGA), only two delegates could write, even when it was obvious that most of them were literate. He disclosed that the same thing played out in other local government areas.
Dr Patrick Sunday Dakum pointed out that local government council chairmen and officials were around to influence who delegates will vote for as the delegates were not given the opportunity to freely cast their votes for the aspirant of their choice.
“There was a lot of intimidation on the delegates, you could see them being very terrified as you could see government officials hovering all over the place to ensure the delegates go a particular direction” he said.
According to Dr Patrick Dakum, they walked out because the result of the primaries will not reflect the true mind of the APC members in Plateau State.
He reiterated that the primaries were compromised and wasn’t in any way reflective of the choice of the best candidate.
Dr Dakum said they have channeled their complaints to the Appeal Committee as they await the verdict to know the next line of action to take.
He pointed out that if nothing is done about their petition, he will consult with the stakeholders and people who believe in the consolidation vision to take the appropriate decision.
“I will also put my ears to the spiritual ground to know the conviction God is giving me in my heart, if I am to stay in the party and work for it and the candidate or otherwise, these are possibilities” he said.
Dakum urged his supporters to stay calm and peaceful as they engage the leadership of the party to look into the issues presented.
