The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Plateau

  • Eight sustain injuries in Plateau truck accident

    Eight sustain injuries in Plateau truck accident

    At least eight persons sustained serious injuries when a truck collided with several other cars at Polo Roundabout in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
    According to an eyewitness account, the incident happened on Friday at about 8:00 a.m., when a truck loaded with goods suddenly lost control and rammed into vehicles on its path.
    The driver of the truck was said to have lost control of the break while on top speed.
    The Plateau State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Alphonsus Godwin, who confirmed the accident, said the truck lost its break precisely at the Polo roundabout while the driver, who could not control the truck anymore, rammed it into other vehicles within the vicinity.

    Read Also: Crisis stalls activities at Plateau House of Assembly


    Mr. Godwin said the driver of the truck hit five other cars and commercial tricycles before it finally rammed into an eatery called “Karibacho” at the University of Jos Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
    “Our men who got to the scene on time were able to rescue the occupants of the truck. They were three: two were rescued immediately, and the third one took a long time. They were taken to the Bingham Teaching Hospital for treatment. Five other persons in the other vehicles also sustained various degrees of injuries.
    “Apart from the eight people who sustained injuries, no deaths were recorded. We are appealing to traders who always mill around the area to leave the area, as the roundabout is always prone to accidents.

  • Crisis stalls activities at Plateau House of Assembly

    Crisis stalls activities at Plateau House of Assembly

    There is uncertainty over the fate of the 16 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau State House of Assembly sacked by the Court of Appeal.

    The crisis is due to the conflicting judgment of the Supreme Court that affirmed the election of Governor Caleb Muftwang and that of the Court of Appeal that sacked all those elected on the PDP platform during the last general elections over the issue of structure. As a result, the 16 PDP members of the House of Assembly were removed by the appellate court for lack of structure, while the APC and Labour Party (LP) are beneficiaries of the judgment.

    Though Certificates of Return have been issued to the beneficiaries, the APC and the LP members under the directives of the judgment, they are yet to be inaugurated since the House has been on recess since last December.

    However, both parties have resorted to mutual accusations. The APC members, in reaction to the purported intent of the PDP members to resume the plenary session, have mobilised the party faithful to resist the move, describing it as insensitive to the rule of law and an invitation to anarchy.

    APC stakeholders including former governor, Senator Simeon Lalong and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are mounting pressure on the Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, Gabriel Dewan, to swear in the 16 members of the party affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

    The crisis brewing over the matter in the North Central state prompted the police last Tuesday to cordon off the road leading to the state House of Assembly.

    The Court of Appeal had sacked all members of the PDP in Plateau State elected during the last general elections. The Supreme Court, however, reversed the governor’s sacking by the Court of Appeal.

    In the light of the Supreme Court judgment in the governor’s case, the 16 PDP lawmakers are asking to be returned to their position.

    Similarly, based on the position of the apex court, the 16 APC lawmakers have also approached the court of appeal for a review of its judgment on PDP. But the court still insisted on its earlier judgment and dismissed the request by PDP lawmakers.

    But despite the insistence of the court of appeal on standing on its earlier judgement, the speaker has not sworn in the 16 APC lawmakers till this moment.

    Another reason advanced by the speaker for his refusal to swear in the 16 APC lawmakers is the temporary closure of the state House of Assembly complex. While declaring a recess in December last year, the speaker said the entire complex will undergo renovation, and that the house will resume after the renovation.

    A visit to the House of the Assembly complex shows the massive renovation of the complex. It was difficult to know when the ongoing renovation would end.

    Meanwhile, The Nation learnt the existing eight members of the house have relocated to one of the guest houses in the old government house in Rayfield where they allegedly carry out official functions as state lawmakers.

    Given the above scenario, stakeholders continued to mount pressure on the speaker to swear in the 16 APC lawmakers as a mark of respect for the rule of law.

    For instance, Senator Lalong has appealed to Governor Caleb Muftwang to intervene and use his power to ensure that the 16 APC lawmakers are sworn in to move the state forward.

    Read Also: Plateau Deputy Gov Piyo hails Mutfwang at 59

    Lalong who represents Plateau South Senatorial District at the National Assembly made the appeal at the funeral service for the late state APC spokesman, Slyvanus Namang at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Gigiring Jos, Plateau State.

    The former governor said the state needs a functional House of Assembly to move the state forward adding that one of the things Namang wrote about before his sudden death was the lack of a functional House of Assembly.

    He therefore appealed to the governor to use his power and allow the House of Assembly members to be sworn in so that the State would move forward. and prayed that the death of Namang would bring reconciliation to the politics of the State.

    The state chapter of APC has gone beyond mounting pressure to threatening to sue the Plateau Speaker for refusal to swear in 16 lawmakers.

    The Plateau State APC Chairman, Rufus Bature, expressed displeasure over the continued delay, adding that the flagrant disobedience to the judgment was contempt and lack of respect for the judiciary and other constituted authorities.

    Bature implored the Speaker to swear in the 16 APC lawmakers, adding that any further delay may force the party to institute another suit that might compel him to do the right thing.

    He added: “We cannot force the speaker to swear them in; we are giving him some time to see what he will do. I can assure you that we will do the needful. There are legal means that we need to follow if it becomes imperative or extremely necessary.

    ‘”Ordinarily, he should have sworn them in right from the onset. Unfortunately, people who are products of the law don’t want to obey the law because the Speaker ought to have done the needful tight from the day they received their certificates of return. But we are being careful not to heat the system because of the security situation in the state. That does not mean we don’t know what to do.”

  • Lawless Plateau

    Lawless Plateau

    It is amazing that Plateau State could go on a boil when, for much of the years under Governor Simon Lalong, a template existed to keep the communities together. Governor Caleb Mutfwang took over and has to do two things. One, he should recognise the APC lawmakers. Two, he should return to the security template his predecessor left. Reports say, he dissolved the inter-religious council and pooh-poohed local arrangements that brought representatives of communities to share, vent and resolve grievances before they boiled over into bleeding machetes, butchery and limp babies. The state has been reporting a series of burials and weeping families, and it is obvious they can be avoided. Governor Mutfwang should not let what his predecessor left behind become in the words of Shakespeare like “insubstantial pageant faded.” Peace is about human beings, not systems. But we have to make systems for human beings to leverage. That was what the governor met. The area known as Miango, for instance, was one of the most violent in the state. It is tranquil today. For irony, it was in the neighbourhood of the 3rd Armoured Division. Yet, the hordes defied the army and made a parade of death and plunder. The state inaugurated what it called a Day of Forgiveness to mark peace because peace efforts at Miango yielded fruits. A predecessor is not a foe but a forerunner, a link in the chain to the future. Even in Lalong’s system, the state witnessed some spasm of bloodletting, but they were often few.

    Read Also:Plateau attacks: We subdued 12attackers, 10 gunrunners, 25kidnappers in two months.

    On the legislature, the nation focused on Rivers State but what is going on in Plateau is worse, it is an endorsement of anarchy. The state is running a democracy without lawmakers. The governor has allowed this to go on because of the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the governor on the same ground that the appeal court threw out the lawmakers. This is not acceptable. The PDP folks are throwing the constitution out of the window. We cannot cherry-pick the law. We cannot accept one and toss another and pledge fidelity to the constitution. We cannot be believers in part. It is a dangerous precedent. The media, the Nigeria Bar Association and the NGOs have been silent about this travesty.

  • Plateau attacks: We subdued 12attackers, 10 gunrunners, 25kidnappers in two months.

    Plateau attacks: We subdued 12attackers, 10 gunrunners, 25kidnappers in two months.

    The special military task force in charge of the security of Plateau and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, code-named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), said it has subdued the network of criminals responsible for killings and insecurity in Plateau within the last two months.

    The troop said it has recovered at least 1,167 arms from the criminals.

    Briefing newsmen at the OPSH headquarters, in Jos, yesterday, DCP Terzungwe Iyua representing the commander said, “We have dominated the entire landscape and frustrated the activities of criminal elements, leading to the arrest of suspected criminals, neutralization of bandits and recovery of illegal weapons/ammunition amongst others.”

    He said, during the period under review, “On February 2, 2024, personnel arrested two suspects, Ibrahim Mohammed, 52, and Zaharadeen Ibrahim, 34, who were identified in a viral video while murdering someone during the crisis in Mangu on January 24, 2024. Security agencies also recorded significant breakthroughs against illegal manufacturing and proliferation of arms.

    Read Also: PDP chieftain lays mother to rest in Plateau

    “On February 14, 2024, while acting on credible information, a local weapon fabrication factory on a high ground within Pakachi village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State was raided. A suspect, Tapshak Plangi, 25, was arrested at the factory while the alleged owner of the factory was at large. Items recovered at the factory include five AK 47 Rifles, four AK 47 Magazines, eleven Rounds of 7.62mm Ammunition, five Rounds of 9mm Ammunition, 21 Dane Guns, four Revolver Rifles, eleven Pistols with five Magazines, seventeen Gun Barrels, six Rounds of 0.44 Inch Ammunition, a Carbide Cylinder with Accessories, 3 Saws, 12 Filing Machines, four Hammers, six Manual Drilling Machines, two Electrically Operated Filling Machines, two G-Clamps, one Spraying Machine, one Tiger Generator, and Assorted Drilling Irons.

    He further stated that “on February 21 and 23, 2024, security agencies arrested five suspects who attacked Kitako Village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on February 11, 2024.  The suspects include Alhaji Ya’u Idris, Samaila Idris, Abdulsalam Ibrahim, Buhari Mahmoud, Yahuza Ibrahim, Gadaffi Saidu, and Adamu Buba.

    The suspects are undergoing interrogation and will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.

    “In the same vein, on February 22, 2024, personnel acting on credible information arrested Mohammed Bello also known as Harabu Dan Zamfara for sewing military uniforms for suspected bandits at Mangu Halle in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. During the arrest, security agencies recovered one pistol, one cartridge, one desert camouflage t-shirt, and one mobile phone amongst others.”

  • Two killed, five injured in Plateau community attack

    Two killed, five injured in Plateau community attack

    • Terrorists kidnap scores, burn 30 houses in Niger    
    • Abductors demand N50m ransom to free Corpse, family members in Enugu   
    • Imo monarch, driver escape kidnappers’ attack

    Two men, Moses Dalyop, 28 and Samuel Yakubu, 26, have been killed by gunmen who attacked Rawuru community in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    The attackers left five members of the community injured after their invasion on Sunday night.

    A source yesterday told The Nation that the criminal stormed the village around 7:30pm and attacked the people.

    The National Body of Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM), in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, expressed shock over the attack and ambush by the gunmen suspected to be militia herders.

    According to the group, the terror attacks were some of the modus operandi of the armed militias, bandits and their cohorts to continue killing and dispossessing traditional landowners of their ancestry.

    It condemned the attacks on affected communities, calling on the relevant authorities to rise up to their statutory responsibility and halt the acts of terrorism being meted out on Plateau villages and communities.

    The group urged the government to legalize the acquisition of firearms by communities under the supervision of the police to safeguard themselves before they would be extinct by the attacks believed to be an accelerated “Ethnic Cleansing” mission.

    Also, terrorists on Sunday night razed over 30 houses, abducted scores and killed hundreds of cattle at Allawa community in Shiroro local government area of Niger State.

    It was+ learnt that the incident occurred at about 7:56pm on Sunday.

    The attackers were said to have fired sporadic shots into the air which made the villagers run into the bushes.

    Residents who pleaded anonymity said that several of those who were abducted were women and children as they were not fast enough to escape the terrorists.

    The terrorists also burnt 35 motorcycles and 150 bags of food items that were stored for sale.

    Efforts made to get the Niger State Police Command to comment proved abortive as the PPRO was unavailable to respond to his calls or messages.

    In Enugu State, kidnappers took the body of one Israel Ugwuanyi hostage while it was being moved from Lagos to his village at Ameze Owerre,  Umabor community in Nsukka Local Government Area for burial.

    Kidnapped alongside the corpse were family members escorting the body home.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred along 9th Mile Road, Umuoka community in Udi on Sunday.

    According to a family source: “His corpse was on its way from Lagos yesterday (Sunday) when the vehicle conveying it was halted by kidnappers and people in the vehicle alongside the driver were all kidnapped at Umuoka Udi LGA of Enugu State”.

    Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers had since established contact with the family and demanded a N50 million ransom.

    The source said: “They called Monday morning to inform us to look for N50 million. Our fear is that the corpse will decompose before they release them.

    “We don’t know what to do because our community people in Lagos spent so much money on the sickness of Israel.”

    Read Also: EFCC quizzes ex-Gov Ahmed over alleged diversion of N10bn

    She called on the security agencies and the state government to come to the aid of the people to save those in captivity.

    The Police were yet to comment on the incident at the time of filing this report.

    In Imo State, the traditional ruler of Okolochi in Owerri West Local Government Area, Eze Chukwuemeka Amadi, narrowly escaped being kidnapped on Friday.

    The monarch was returning from a visit to one of his sons in Owerri, at about 5pm, when kidnappers suddenly emerged from the bush and blocked his way along the  Ihiagwa-Okolochi-Eziobodo Road.

    The hoodlums, it was learnt, flagged down the vehicle, but the driver pretended to obey their instructions and slowed down. When the kidnappers relaxed, the driver quickly fired up the vehicle and escaped.

    Gas Amadi, a former House of Assembly member, an indigene of the community, confirmed the incident and described it as a horrible experience.

    He said that the incident was reported to the police, who promised to track down the criminals.

    Unfortunately, the kidnappers struck again the following day, abducting another person from a neighboring community.

  • Govt ready to promote speedy justice system in Plateau

    Govt ready to promote speedy justice system in Plateau

    • PPDC promises to set free 1,800 prisoners annually

    Plateau State governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang, has expressed the readiness of his administration to promote accelerated justice system in the state through the instrumentality of Public and Private Development Center.

    Mutfwang stated this in his speech during a townhall/workshop on Administration of Criminal Justice instruments organised by Public and Private Development Center, Jos chapter.

    Gov Mutfwang, who was represented by the Secretary to the government of the state, Arch Samuel Jatau said, “The Plateau State government is ready to partner with you because vibrant and effective legal criminal justice system on the Plateau will help us a lot.

    “And it will do good for our people so that we don’t incarcerate our people innocently for long periods of time without justice.”

    In a keynote address, Prof. Dakas C.J Dakas (SAN) said “Swift and efficient justice is not just a lofty ideal but a fundamental requirement for maintaining order, stability, protecting individual rights, and upholding the rule of law in society.

    Prof Dakas, who spoke on the topic “Swift and Efficient Justice in Plateau: Myth or Reality,” pointed out that justice delayed is justice denied and the risks of uncertainty and potential rights violations in the absence of swift justice.

    ‘Delayed justice also undermines the deterrent effect of the criminal justice system and erodes public trust in the judiciary, potentially leading to resorting to vigilante justice.”

    Read Also: Nine die, 21 injured in Ogun, Plateau road crashes

    Dakas, therefore, called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address challenges in justice delivery.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief executive of Public and Private Development center (PPDC), Jubril Shittu, expressed appreciation to the Plateau State government for providing the center the enabling environment for positive and robust collaboration.

    He added that the collaboration will go a long way in accelerating justice administration and promote human rights on the state.

    The state Program Manager of Public and Private Development Center (PPDC), Barr Lynda Daizam, said the organisation promised to set free 1,800 prisoners annually from custodial centers across Plateau State.

    Daizam also said the NGO has taken up the task to enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice sector in Plateau State by strengthening institutional capacities towards speedy justice delivery.

    Daizam, while presenting an overview of objectives of the organisation, stated that, “Looking at the accountability, looking at speed, injustice, delivery and also transparency in the process of justice delivery, we came with four goals with this objective: to strengthen institutional capacities towards justice delivery, to make case management easier and inject some measures of accountability and transparency in justice process and the system as a whole, to improve case notification and scheduling system, to align with best practice, global best practices and to improve evidence and storage management.

  • Nine die, 21 injured in Ogun, Plateau road crashes

    Nine die, 21 injured in Ogun, Plateau road crashes

    Nine people were killed yesterday and 21 others injured in road crashes at the Ogun end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and in Plateau State.

    Five of the victims died when a Mazda Bus with registration number SMK685YG collided with a truck marked ZE121OG on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around 1:07pm.

    The other four lost their lives at Zakalio community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State when two trailers collided with passenger vehicles.

    The Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, Mrs Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident, adding that it occurred a few metres after Foursquare.

    According to Okpe, the accident was caused by the driver of the Mazda bus who lost control of the wheels while sleeping.

    “A total of 18 people, comprising 10 men and eight women, were involved in the accident. Twelve people were injured and unfortunately five persons were also recovered dead from the crash.

    “The suspected cause of the fatal crash was fatigue which led to loss of control because the driver slept off on the wheels and rammed into a moving truck,” she said.

    The FRSC spokesperson said that the injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital at Ogere while the deceased were deposited at the FOS Morgue in Ipara.

    The Jos accident, witnesses said, was caused by the trucks laden with flour and salt.

    They said the trucks were heading towards Bauchi State when they lost control at a sharp bend along Jos-Bauchi road, which led to their falling and then colli Borno State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum has doled out cash and food items to 810 volunteers fighting Boko Haram alongside the military and other security agencies in Bama Local Government Area of the state.

    Zulum gave out the package yesterday at the Palace of the Shehu of Bama, Umar Shehu-Kyari.

    The governor extolled the volunteers for their sacrifices and commitment to defending the state and assured them of government continuous support.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Gani Adams writes southwest governors, Ooni, others

    He said that the gesture was to encourage the volunteers to keep pushing for the the return of total peace and security across the state.

    “We are aware of the enormous efforts you put into complementing the military in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality, we commend you and urge you to continue to be dedicated,” he said.

    Zulum assured that the government would never relent in extending support to them.

    ”Your welfare is of high priority to us, we will not leave you, be assured that the government will always be with you,” the governor added.

    Zulum said the government and people of the state were grateful to the volunteers for their sacrifices in complementing the military and other security forces in the fight against insurgency.

     sion with three oncoming cars.

    Spokesman for the FRSC in Plateau, Peter Yakubu, confirmed the accident, adding that four persons were killed on the spot and nine others sustained injuries.

    He said the injured were moved to the hospital for treatment.

    Nurudeen Hussain Magaji Branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS ), who was at the scene of the incident told The Nation that some of the victims were critically injured and had been rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital for immediate medical attention.

  • Plateau Rep expresses commitment to restoring peace

    Plateau Rep expresses commitment to restoring peace

    The member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Mr Daniel Asama Ago, has expressed his commitment towards restoring peace in the state.

    Asama, who was declared winner of the recent re-run election in the state, said his priority also included uniting the state and empowering the people.

    He made this known while speaking with reporters in Abuja on Saturday.

    The lawmaker said, “I have three important needs for now. The number one is restoring peace on the Plateau. It is a paramount priority. We were called and we are still called the home of peace and tourism. For some reason, the peace is being distorted. We the indigenes of Plateau don’t feel the same. We feel relatively safe. But with all the incessant issues happening from herdsmen, kidnapping and skirmishes, which to say the truth, is across the nation and not just on the Plateau, the aim now is how to restore peace.

    “I would work with the governor and every other government apparatus to ensure my people have the peace that has eluded them. We are relatively in a safe place but there still some pockets of violence in a few local governments. Precisely right now, we are struggling with hiccups in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi area.

    Read Also: Military capable of tackling security challenges, Tinubu assures

    “The second thing unity. The polity nationwide is heated and Plateau is not excluded. Our people have diverse interests. Politics comes with that. People are thinking of what they want to do and how they want to do it. They have their parties and affiliations. Nigeria in general is sharply divided around ethnic, religious and tribal lines. In fact lately it is even involving some social colouration.

    “But I would want to focus on bringing Plateau together. I would work assiduously to unite the state for development. We need to unite Plateau, we need to cushion and neutralise the toxicity of colouring politics along the lines of religion, of social class or tribes.

     “The number three is empowerment. Our people need empowerment in every form. The people of the Plateau are hardworking people. There is the skill, willingness and also the availability in terms of resources. But we need to harness that with some government policies, support systems and material resources for the benefit of the people,” he said.

  • What next for APC on the Plateau?

    What next for APC on the Plateau?

    The fight for the soul of Plateau State no doubt has been won by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The final mandate to take over the administration of the state was handed over to the party by the Supreme Court in the landmark judgment delivered last month.

    Before the Supreme Court verdict, the Court of Appeal in Abuja had already handed over 24 legislative seats earlier won by the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). From the look of things, after the pulsating legal battle that lasted seven months, the PDP is in control of the executive, while the APC dominates the legislative arm of government. Whether the ruling party will deploy its executive powers to reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal in its favour is yet to be seen.

    A five-time member of the House of Representatives from the state, Beni Lar said the ruling party would try to get justice on the matter. He said: “I am a victim of the injustice of the Court of Appeal, but I don’t know if our cases can be reversed. But there is nothing wrong with trying. This is the first of its kind in the history of democracy in Nigeria.”

    The current political structure in Plateau State appears like a joint administration of the PDP and the APC. It could be so for the next four years. The spokesperson of the APC, Sylvanus Namang told The Nation in Jos that the party remains strong and domineering on the Plateau. His words: “Leaving aside all the stereotyping, the name calling and everything, it remains a party beat in Plateau State. After all, look at the performance of the APC in the last election. After the combination of all the forces, the churches, and everything, the PDP was able to win only one senatorial district. That tells you that the APC is still a strong party on the Plateau.

    “Now, as you know, losing the governorship is not the main thing. We have almost all of the National Assembly and 22 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly. So, we have only lost the governorship seat. We have gained the legislature, which is very crucial for the operation of government in our present democratic clan. So, we have been in opposition for the past eight months. Were we not relevant? We provided alternative views to the government, even though they did not listen to us. But, at least, our role is to keep the government in check, which we have done so wonderfully. As I said, you know that the legislature is very crucial in the performance of any government. So, when you have 22 and the ruling party, the government doesn’t have a single member, it tells you that the APC is still a very strong force on the Plateau.”

    With the mindset of the APC as the main opposition party in Plateau State, emboldened by its dominance of the legislative arm of government, the party does not see itself as less important to the PDP. Namang echoed this viewpoint in the following words: “We remain strong and positive; we are fully on the ground and we are in control of the grassroots. We will therefore walk towards 2027 with our full strength to retake our mandate in the state.

    “When you have five members of the House of Representatives, two senators and 22 members of the state House of Assembly, it shows that the party is still popular among the populace. Do you think losing the governorship is the main thing? You know the stereotyping and all the name-calling. Let’s wait and see, whether those issues will still exist. Even with the blackmail the APC was subjected to, it lost the governorship election with a slim margin. Don’t be under any illusion that the APC is not strong on the Plateau;  it is still as strong as ever.” 

    Notwithstanding, the ruling PDP believes that the APC does not stand any chance of challenging its dominance in the future. PDP spokesman, John Akans believes the APC has lost the support of the people. He told The Nation: “With the body language of the people of Plateau State, there is no party called APC anymore. The people made such bold statements in the last governorship election. The people spoke with their votes and they stood by the party they gave their mandate to all these while.

    Akans added: “Plateau has been the home of PDP since 1998, but the APC rigged their way into power on the Plateau in 2015; the opposition party never won any election in the state. In 2019 again the APC imposed itself on the people using federal might. But, in 2023, the people took back the mandate from the APC and handed it back to the PDP. Even though the APC tried to smuggle the mandate through the judiciary, with people’s prayers, the Supreme Court finally gave the mandate to the rightful owner.

    “It is on record that since the inception of the APC in 2014, they have never won the election through the ballots in Plateau State; they normally win through the court. The truth is that the only way the APC can win the election in Plateau State is if the PDP does not participate. The only political party known to the people is the PDP; the APC is alien to the Plateau people and so it has always been difficult for them to win the election.

    “Take my word for it, in the next four years, the PDP will be too strong for the APC to handle. If the PDP can record overwhelming victories at the polls in the 2023 election conducted by the APC, then you don’t need to doubt that the PDP is very formidable on the Plateau. By 2027, the PDP will not need to struggle to campaign because the PDP administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang is already laying a solid foundation for massive people-oriented programmes. I can assure you that before the next four years, there will be no party like the APC on the Plateau.”

    Akans dismissed the narrative that the APC formed the majority in the state House of Assembly with a wave of hand, saying, “Who gave the APC lawmakers the mandate they are claiming? Surely, it was not from the people at the constituencies, and the mandate was not from the polls. We are talking about the legitimacy of your mandate; do these PDP lawmakers boast of the legitimacy of representation? Did the people of their constituencies vote for them at the polls? The answer is no. So can you boast of the legitimacy of your mandate? Let them search their conscience. It is the people that give legitimacy of representation, not the court.”

    Read Also: Mutfwang dissolves governing council of Plateau varsity, others

    Nevertheless, the political atmosphere in the tin city does not look peaceful. The atmosphere is still hazy and cloudy. There is the likelihood of both political parties opening a new chapter of litigation in their struggle to gain control of the state.

    So far, it is not a winner-takes-all-all in Plateau State. But, the ability of the APC to sustain its legitimacy and remain relevant till 2027 cannot be guaranteed. There are indications that if the ruling party fails to reclaim the mandates given to the APC lawmakers by the Court of Appeal through legal means, the people at the constituencies are ready to initiate a recall of the APC lawmakers, including those at the state House of Assembly and those at the National Assembly.

    From the fight for legitimacy at the governorship level to that of the legislative arm of government the “struggle continues” at Plateau political turf. But a political analyst, Comrade Dave Maduks said:  “I don’t think the APC will survive this ongoing political battle because the APC administration was shortlived on the Plateau. They only ruled for eight years under former Governor Simon Lalong. But the PDP ruled the state for 16 years before the APC interrupted in 2015. So, compare the APC for eight years and the PDP for 16 years. Now, the PDP has gotten another four years. Comparatively, you know which political party is stronger between the two. Truth be told, the survival of the APC on the Plateau is hanging on the balance.”

    Another independent political analyst, Comrade Steve Aluko of the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) said:  “With increased political intelligence of the voters, the ruling PDP need to perform excellently well to keep the people on their side beyond 2027. The APC is already standing by as an alternative platform for the people. That means the APC can bounce back if the PDP performs poorly in the next four years.

    “Secondly, political activities on the Plateau are always influenced by regional and national politicking. I mean, the performance of the national government of the APC can influence the strength of the APC on the Plateau in 2027. The APC may appear defeated today, but cannot be written off in 2027. Voters are more enlightened politically than before and so it’s not going to be business as usual.”

    With the way and manner the APC as a relatively new political party in the country in 2014 was able to displace the PDP in 2015 in Plateau State, the opposition party is not down and out on the Plateau.

  • ADP, LP win Senate, Reps rerun polls in Plateau

    ADP, LP win Senate, Reps rerun polls in Plateau

    • Oyo by-election petitions to be heard in Lagos

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared Prince Pam Mwadkon of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) winner of Plateau North senatorial rerun election.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Nestor Chagok, said Mwadkwon scored 122,442 votes to beat Yakub Muhammad Safiu of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who polled 53,980.

    INEC also declared Daniel Asama of the Labour Party (LP) winner of the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency rerun.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. James Damen, said Asama polled 66,422 votes to beat Muhammad Alkali of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), who scored 61,670.

    Governor Caleb Mutfwang has congratulated Mwadkon and Asama.

    The governor noted that their triumphs transcended party lines, symbolising the true Plateau spirit of accommodation, tolerance, and unity in diversity.

    He urged them to collaborate with fellow representatives to attract development to the state.

    Mwadkon pledged to be a voice for all Plateau residents, irrespective of their backgrounds.

    Also yesterday, the Court of Appeal constituted the election petitions tribunal that will hear petitions arising from the by-elections that held in Lagos and Oyo states.

    A statement by its Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Mahmud, said the tribunal would sit at the Roseline Omotosho Court House in Ikeja, Lagos.

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    By-elections were held for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State and Saki West State Constituency of Oyo State on Saturday.

    The statement said the tribunal was constituted by the Court of Appeal President, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, in line with the Electoral Act 2022.

    Also, the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said its legal team was studying the by-election results declared in Akoko Northeast/Akoko Northwest Federal Constituency.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, polled 35,504 votes to defeat PDP’s Bada Olalekan, who scored 15,328.

    The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kennedy Peretei, said the outcome of the investigation would determine its next line of action.

    Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo hailed Ehindero’s victory.

    He said in a statement that the beauty of the democratic process unfolded when citizens were allowed to freely choose the representative they deemed most deserving.