Elder and political leader in Mikang Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. George Edwards Daika, has appealed to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, and the Executive Governor/Party Leader of Plateau State to uphold the result of the Mikang State Assembly Constituency primary election.
In a petition dated May 3, 2026, Daika, who also serves as Special Adviser on NASS Matters to the Governor, said the people of Mikang overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Timdi Nkat of Garkawa District during direct primaries conducted across all 10 wards of the local government area.
Daika recalled that the governor had earlier convened a peace meeting at Government House, Jos, with both aspirants and selected Mikang stakeholders in attendance. At that meeting, he said the governor spoke as a father to all and made his position clear. He quoted the governor as saying the contest was APC internal business, that he had no preferred candidate, and that whoever won in a free, fair and peaceful primary should be allowed to stand because the people’s choice must be respected.
The elder then asked what had changed that the party leader was no longer keeping to his words. He argued that if the governor had wanted Hon. Naanlong Gapyil from the beginning he would not have subjected Mikang people to primaries and repeated reruns in which Timdi Nkat emerged winner each time while the people respected the zoning spirit that binds the four tribes and chiefdoms together.
The elder warned that it would be unfortunate and insensitive if the government remained silent or manipulated the people’s choice in favor of Hon. Naanlong Gapyil, who he said lost woefully despite provocations, attacks and bodily harm on citizens allegedly by the Hon. Speaker, his security aides and thugs. Daika said he has still pictures and videos as evidence of Hon. Naanlong Gapyil, his aides and thugs chasing and attacking the people. He questioned whether someone with violent tendencies who does not mind the blood of his people being shed for selfish reasons is the kind of person Mikang needs now. He further asked if that was how the collective resolve of Mikang people in the 2023 general elections would be rewarded, and wondered what made the government and party hierarchy think Naanlong Gapyil, who was rejected overwhelmingly in his 2023 third term bid, would be elected in a fourth term bid if imposed on the people. He noted that the issue of Mikang was already overheating the polity and gaining sympathy across the state in a way that could impact negatively on the party’s performance in 2027.
On the electoral process, Daika stated that the first primary was conducted peacefully across Mikang LGA under direct primary rules and Mr. Timdi Nkat emerged winner with the highest votes from registered APC members. He said the NWC later appointed an Electoral Committee and ordered fresh elections across all 10 wards to settle disputes. According to him, elections held successfully in 6 wards and results were recorded. But in 4 wards, Tunkus, Lalin, Piapung A and B, the process was disrupted by Hon. Naanlong Gapyil and thugs who allegedly attacked and chased away security agents, electoral officials and party members. Daika added that during the rerun in Piapung A and B, the violence repeated. He said many party members were injured and that he personally was attacked and shot at, but by God’s mercy the bullet lodged in his vehicle.
Daika listed his grounds for appeal and said the governor’s directive at Government House, Jos, was clear that the winner of the primary should stand. He argued that despite violence in 2 wards, the people’s mandate was expressed in 8 wards and the intent of the process was clear in all 10 wards. He said nullifying the result would reward violence, betray democracy and reopen wounds of bodily harm and tribal disaffection. Upholding it, he stated, would uphold the governor’s word, the APC Constitution, the 2026 Direct Primary Guidelines and the Electoral Act 2026. He added that it would also build trust and confidence of Mikang people in the party’s electoral processes and leadership while promoting fairness, justice and equity.
In his prayers, Daika appealed that the result of the Mikang State Assembly primary as conducted and documented by the NWC Electoral Committee be upheld. He asked that Mr. Timdi Nkat be recognized as the duly elected APC candidate and that his name be transmitted immediately to INEC to restore peace, unity and trust in APC Mikang. He also requested that investigation be ordered into the attacks allegedly led by Hon. Naanlong Gapyil to deter future violence against party processes. He concluded by saying Mikang, Plateau and indeed the whole world are watching, and prayed that the leadership of the party and government would be remembered for standing with the people when truth was tested.
The petition was signed by Rt. Hon. George Edwards Daika, Elder and Political Leader of Mikang LGA, Special Adviser NASS Matters to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, former member of the House of Representatives, and former Parliamentarian at the ECOWAS Parliament.
