Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Taraba North Senatorial District have called on the party’s national leadership to respect the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary in the district, warning against any attempt to overturn the result.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the stakeholders, working in concert with the national leadership of the Conference of APC Support Groups, alleged that some interests within the party were making “clandestine moves” to reverse the victory of Muhammad Kabir Bello, who was declared winner of the Taraba North senatorial primary.

The group congratulated Bello on his emergence as candidate, describing his victory as a clear reflection of the will of APC members in the district. They also hailed Senator Haruna Manu of Taraba Central and Senator David Jimkuta of Taraba South, whose nominations were similarly affirmed by the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Signed by the Coordinator of Taraba North Stakeholders, Abubakar Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of the Conference of APC Support Groups, Bilal Galadima, the statement expressed concern that efforts were underway to subvert the Taraba North result already declared in Bello’s favour.

The stakeholders insisted that the primary was conducted in line with party guidelines, under INEC observation, and produced an undisputed winner. They warned that tampering with the outcome would damage confidence in the APC’s internal democracy and send a dangerous signal to party members ahead of the general elections.

The group urged INEC to stand by its monitoring report and safeguard the integrity of the process. They also appealed to the APC national leadership to resist external pressure and formally recognise Bello as the authentic candidate for Taraba North.

In addition, the stakeholders called on the Taraba State Government to maintain strict neutrality and ensure there is no interference in the party’s internal affairs, stressing that democracy can only thrive where fairness, transparency and respect for voters’ choices are upheld.

They vowed that any move to disenfranchise APC members in Taraba North would be resisted through all lawful and democratic means, and urged relevant authorities within the party to act swiftly to protect its credibility and electoral prospects.