Season of renewal, realignment in Plateau PDP

THE phrase “once bitten, twice shy” aptly captures what transpired at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau State Congress last Saturday. The exercise was devoid of the rancor that has often characterized such events in the past; there was no petition, litigation, or attempt to block it under any pretense. For a long time, this appears to be the best state congress in Plateau PDP’s history, despite its predominance and stronghold.

Recall that the slew of litigations that followed the party’s 2014 congress, in which some stakeholders sued the party over the congress, eventually became the party’s albatross in the 2023 general election. The opposition party exploited the event to question the PDP’s overall success in the state, national assembly, and governorship elections, claiming that the party lacked structure in the state.

The PDP eventually lost all 16 House of Assembly seats, five House of Representatives seats, and two senatorial seats it had earlier won to the All Progressives Congress at the Election Petition Tribunal. Governor Caleb Mutfwang narrowly escaped the tsunami. Despite gathering a huge number of votes in 2023, the PDP lost all the seats, leaving the governor as the only elected candidate on the platform of the PDP standing.

Plateau State has undoubtedly been a stronghold of the PDP since the inception of this political dispensation. Though it lost the governorship to the APC in 2015 due to political miscalculations, it reclaimed it in 2023 but eventually lost all seats in both the state and national assemblies in inexplicable ways.

Still in shock over losing every elected legislative seat to the opposition party in the state, Sunday Tribune learned that key party members in the just-concluded state congress maintained a firm posture to guarantee that the right thing was done to prevent the mistakes of the past, even in the face of attempts by a selected few to force their will.

For fear of controversy, a source close to the party told Sunday Tribune that positions to be contested for were strategically zoned to different parts of the state and mandated to submit candidates of their choice, which was perfectly executed without a hitch, resulting in a smooth state congress last Saturday.

Sunday Tribune observed that those saddled with the responsibility of conducting the congress made sure that all regulations were closely adhered to, since they were fully aware that anyone could be observing to profit from any indication of an act of omission that might arise in the process.

Despite the fact that all positions were unopposed, the organizers followed the procedures and the rules. Delegates from all seventeen local governments in the state were accredited, and the Inadependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was equally on the ground to observe the congress.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the congress, Rt. Hon. David Fatchar, was ably supported by other distinguished members, including the Chairman from Kaduna State, Mr. Edward Charles; Mrs. Abigail Adar; Mrs. Fumilayo Johnson from Lagos State; and Barrister Atanko Beji, the outgoing chairman of PDP Niger State and chairman of the Forum of PDP Chairmen in the North Central Zone, who served as the committee’s secretary.

In his address to declare the congress open, the State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Hon. Chris Hassan, appreciated members of the party for their strategic political wisdom and loyalty, especially for reasons of equity and balance and for zoning the chairmanship position to the Southern Zone.

Hon. Hassan expressed hope that with the way and manner the 2027 election is slated to be conducted, it will be one-way traffic for the PDP, more so because every party member and stalwart is on the same page.

“You recall that in the past, we didn’t have a leader. But today, we do. And because of that, I can boldly say that in 2027, our House of Assembly and National Assembly members will remain firmly PDP. We are bringing everyone together under one broad-based consensus, guided by party discipline and unity,” he said.

Speaking shortly before the election, Governor Caleb Mutfwang acknowledged the fact that since he joined the party, this was the first congress without contest, adding that the series of events that culminated in the congress were a demonstration of commitment and loyalty to the party.

“We have shown that we can work together as a family, that we can move forward in unity. I want to sincerely thank all our local government chapters. I know that when these positions were being shared, some people had reservations about one name or another. But let me remind us: we will not have angels descend from heaven to run our party. Every one of us has one challenge or the other.”

The poll took place in a serene setting while being closely monitored by INEC officials. Without any opposition, the 39 candidates who ran for offices were elected. As the outcome of the election was reeled out, thousands of party supporters at the venue, WAYE, rolled out drums in celebration of what they referred to as the dawn of a new era. The 39 members of the state executive were inaugurated amidst jubilation, with Chief Raymond Dabo as the chairman.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Chief Dabo, said his election alongside others was a call to duty and assured that the new executive would conduct transparent, credible, and inclusive primaries that would strengthen the party ahead of future elections.

He further declared, “If anyone had told me that today I would be sworn in as the State Chairman of our great party, the PDP, I might have doubted it. But as His Excellency rightly said, this is a call to duty, and we must all embrace it with unity and commitment.”

Speaking after the inauguration, Governor Mutfwang tasked the new executives to unite the party within their areas of influence and ensure that all divisions are healed, saying that the era of exclusion is over.

“This is a season of renewal and alignment. Those who truly belong will stay, and those who do not will naturally fall away. Do not be unsettled by any shake-up—remain steadfast. Every grievance will be addressed, and no one will be discriminated against.

“I urge you to put aside selfish interests. If anyone doubted your capacity during this process, go back and prove them wrong—show them that you are a team player and a builder. That is the spirit I want to see among all of you. There must be no camps or factions in the party. As of today, factionalism in the Plateau PDP has ended. We are one family, under one leadership, under one umbrella.”

The former governor of the state, Senator Jonah Jang, also said the peaceful congress marked a significant milestone in the party’s journey and commended Governor Mutfwang for his leadership and dedication to ensuring a free, fair, and credible congress.

“This congress, widely regarded as peaceful and where all candidates emerged largely through consensus, demonstrates the strong bond between Governor Mutfwang and the people of Plateau State. The impressive turnout of party supporters in the thousands indicates that the people who voted him into office in 2023 remain firmly behind him and will again support him in 2027,” Jang said.

The elected officers and former PDP state executives were later hosted to a dinner at Government House, where the governor congratulated the newly elected State Executive Committee led by Hon. Chief Raymond Dabo, also known as Uncle Ray, and expressed confidence that, by the grace of God, the new leadership would work harmoniously to lead the PDP to a glorious victory in 2027.

He specifically commended former Commissioner for Information, Hon. Gregory Nyenlong; former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Davou Mang; and other aspirants who voluntarily stepped down during the last congress in the interest of peace, unity, and party cohesion.

Addressing recent political speculations on his purported planned defection to the APC, Governor Mutfwang said it was true that an attempt had been made for him to join the APC; he refused, stressing that his political journey is divinely guided by God and anchored on the will of the Plateau people. “Many would want me to join them to lend credibility to their party in the state, but I remain with the majority of Plateau people in the PDP,” he stated firmly.

Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, who is a political adviser and special duty to the governor, Hon. Istifanus Mwansat, said such an affliction on the flimsy ground of no political structure will never arise again, stressing that losing the entire state and national assembly to the APC in 2023 was extremely upsetting and traumatic.

“It was plain and evident that the people of Plateau rejected the APC in 2023, but they snatched victory by the backdoor. With the congress of Saturday, which produced 39 elected state executives, they will have nothing to lean on in 2027,” he said.

Aside from being a peaceful congress free of litigation and the typical petition to the party’s national secretariat, last Saturday’s congress was the first time such an exercise was conducted on consensus and without acrimony. Those who have been monitoring political events in the state said it was a political rebirth and new dawn for the party, which seems to have learned from its past failures.

Quite unique in the Plateau PDP, interests were aligned, and members embraced an attitude of give and take that was previously uncommon. Analysts believe that if the party at the national level, which is currently embroiled in a serious crisis, adopts the same approach to its problems, the overstretched crisis will be a thing of the past.