Plateau North minority tribes allege political marginalisation, demand inclusiveness

Minority tribes in Plateau North Senatorial District of Plateau State, under the aegis of the Plateau North Equity Project (PNEP), have alleged political marginalisation by the dominant tribe in the zone.

The group said the situation had left minority communities underrepresented, particularly in political appointments across the senatorial district.

Addressing newsmen on the development, PNEP spokesman, Dr. Muru Song, said despite repeated complaints to the relevant authorities in the state, nothing had been done to address the imbalance.

He said the situation could not continue in a democracy built on inclusion, balance and shared responsibility.

Song said the group had earlier brought the issue to the attention of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, whom he described as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

According to him, PNEP presented the governor with historical facts on the distribution of key political positions in Plateau North Senatorial District, but the complaint had yet to receive the desired attention.

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“Before writing the letter to the Executive Governor, PNEP interfaced severally with some key stakeholders in government seeking to address the issues. PNEP also met severally with brothers from the other divide of the zone to secure their understanding of the issues.”

He said PNEP was compelled to raise the alarm again as activities leading to the 2027 general elections continued to unfold in ways it considered detrimental to the interests of minority communities.

“Our mandate is simple, no community should be perpetually enslaved to political exclusion. True democracy must be built on inclusion, balance and shared responsibility,” he declared.

Song further said records from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had consistently shown that a significant proportion of the APC’s electoral strength in Plateau North came from minority ethnic communities.

He, however, alleged that despite the political support from the communities, key positions were often given to members of the demographically dominant community.

The group therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, the party’s leadership and Governor Mutfwang to urgently intervene and correct the imbalance before it affected the party.

Song urged the APC leadership in the state to address the critical issues raised, stressing that they could determine not only the future of the party in Plateau North but also its strength and unity across Plateau State.