Former Plateau State Governor, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, alongside Simon Mwadkwon, David Bitrus Barji, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Dachung Musa Bagos and Idris Ahmed Wase, have emerged victorious in the National Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), conducted across Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Announcing the results in Jos, Chairman of the Senate and House of Representatives APC Primary Election Committee in Plateau State, Hon. Stella Okotete, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and credible, noting that the process complied strictly with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
For the senatorial contests, Sen. Lalong clinched the APC ticket for Plateau South Senatorial District after polling the highest number of delegate votes to secure his return bid to the Senate.
In Plateau North Senatorial District, former Senate Minority Leader, Mwadkwon, secured the party’s ticket with a commanding performance across the zone, while businessman and political stalwart David Barji defeated incumbent Senator Diket Plang and other aspirants to emerge as the candidate for Plateau Central Senatorial District.
For the House of Representatives primaries, former lawmaker Beni Lar emerged the winner for Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency.
Hon. Bagos also secured victory in the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency contest, while Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi was returned elected, having scored the highest votes as the APC standard bearer for Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency.
Other winners announced by the committee include Joshya Dashe for Qua’an Pan/Shendam/Mikang Federal Constituency, Abubakar Shaubu for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Ishaya Lalu for Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency, and Hon. Dalyop Fom for Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency.
Okotete commended the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, party stakeholders, delegates and supporters for ensuring a hitch-free exercise across the state.
She equally lauded Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, for providing an enabling atmosphere for the peaceful conduct of the primaries.
“The APC is the ultimate winner of this exercise. While one person emerges as a candidate, every aspirant remains a critical stakeholder in the collective success of the party,” she stated.
Okotete urged aggrieved aspirants and party faithful to close ranks and work together ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that a united APC would remain a formidable political force in Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
The emergence of Lalong has particularly sparked widespread jubilation among supporters across Plateau South, with many describing his victory as a reflection of the confidence reposed in his leadership, political experience and representation at the National Assembly.
Lalong, a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, former Governor of Plateau State, former Minister of Labour and Employment, and former Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Party faithful believe his re-election bid would further consolidate the APC’s influence in Plateau South and strengthen the party’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
