By SN24.com 
By.
Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam, Plateau State – Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi’s bid for a third term in the House of Representatives ended on Saturday after he lost the All Progressives Congress primary for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency seat.
The returning officer, Koshyap Yusuf Yaghi, announced John Tongshinen as winner of the contest with 29,968 votes. Gagdi polled 5,849 votes in the exercise conducted across the constituency.
Tongshinen’s victory marks a significant political shift in PKK, where Gagdi has represented the people since 2019 and currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Navy. The result came despite earlier indications from Gagdi that he had received endorsement as a consensus candidate from key party stakeholders.
Delegates and supporters from Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam local government areas participated in the primary, which was conducted under the supervision of APC officials and members of the electoral committee. With the outcome, Tongshinen is expected to emerge as the APC flag bearer for the constituency in the 2027 general elections.
Ahead of the poll, Gagdi undertook extensive ward-to-ward consultations across the constituency, highlighting achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, empowerment, and employment. He also defended his third-term ambition amid discussions on zoning and power rotation, maintaining that the Constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to contest.
Political observers described the primary as one of the most closely watched contests in Plateau State, given Gagdi’s influence and strong grassroots presence. The outcome is expected to reshape the political dynamics in PKK ahead of 2027.