John Tongshinen has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency seat, defeating incumbent lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi.

Tongshinen secured a landslide victory after polling 29,968 votes in the direct primary election conducted across the three Local Government Areas that make up the constituency, while Gagdi garnered 5,849 votes.

The outcome effectively ended Gagdi’s bid to return to the House of Representatives for a third consecutive term under the platform of the APC.

Declaring the results at the constituency collation centre in Pankshin, the Returning Officer, Hon. Monday Ishaya Daspan, said the exercise was conducted in line with party guidelines and under the supervision of relevant authorities.

According to him, “Dr John Tongshinen scored a total of 29,968 votes, while Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi polled 5,849 votes.”

“By the powers conferred on me as Chairman of this committee, I hereby declare Dr John Tongshinen as the winner of the APC primary election for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency based on the records available before me,” Daspan stated.

He disclosed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside security personnel, monitored the exercise to ensure credibility and peaceful conduct throughout the process.

Gagdi, who currently serves as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, reportedly lost in most polling areas across Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam LGAs during the keenly contested exercise.

Political observers described Tongshinen’s victory as a major political upset within the APC in Plateau State, considering Gagdi’s influence and longstanding dominance in the constituency politics.

The development has since generated reactions among party supporters and political stakeholders across the constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.