The youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Karim 1 Constituency, Taraba State, has strongly rejected the outcome of the August 16 bye-election, alleging widespread irregularities and electoral malpractice.

Addressing journalists in Jalingo on Wednesday, the PDP Youth Forum, led by its chairman, Obed Titus Loh, described the declared victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “fraudulent” and “a stain on Nigeria’s democracy.”

The group accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies of colluding with APC operatives to manipulate the election outcome.

“This rejection is not just political; it is moral, democratic, and constitutional,” Loh stated.

According to the group, the election was marred by voter intimidation, vote buying, and result tampering.

The youth alleged that specific irregularities were noticed in Bikwin Ward, Karim A, Bandawa in Karim B Ward, and Jen-Petel in Jen Ardido Ward, where, according to them, PDP agents were reportedly attacked and removed from collation centres, allowing for the alleged manipulation of results in favour of the APC.

The PDP youths also criticised the cancellation of results from 10 polling units, which they said disenfranchised more than 3,000 accredited voters. With the official margin of victory reportedly under 400 votes, they argued that the number of cancelled votes should have rendered the election inconclusive.

“Despite the challenges, the people of Karim 1 Constituency overwhelmingly voted for the PDP, as reflected in the polling unit results. But those votes were systematically suppressed and rewritten at the collation centre,” the group alleged.

The PDP Youth Forum is demanding a full investigation by INEC into the conduct of the election across all five wards in the constituency. They are also calling for the cancellation of what they describe as manipulated results and the restoration of the original outcomes from polling units.

Furthermore, the group urged INEC, the judiciary, and civil society organisations to defend democratic values and ensure the integrity of the electoral process is maintained.

While pledging to remain peaceful and law-abiding, the PDP youths vowed not to relent in their push to reclaim what they called the “stolen mandate” of the people of Karim 1 Constituency.