Ministerial List: Competition for appointment sparks acrimony in Plateau APC

Despite the numerous security concerns facing the state, the political arena in Plateau State has been the scene of several intrigues since the return of democratic structures in 1999.

The then-ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) made a strategic error in choosing the governor of Plateau in 2015, allowing the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to gain control of the state.

But the PDP has taken back the state government.

For eight years, the APC under Barr Simon Lalong was in charge of the State.

Under his leadership, the party struggled to gain traction in Plateau, with many locals continuing to believe that the PDP was the superior choice.

The Party’s problems were exacerbated by the way in which Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda was chosen in last year’s governorship primary contest.

Some party members were not happy with Nentawe’s rise to power; for example, Dr. Patrick Dakum switched allegiances and ran for governor under the Labour Party, LP’s platform, finishing a disappointing third.

The elections have come and gone, and with them, the litany of ligations against Yilwatda’s rise to power.

Winners have begun governing, while losers are fighting it out in election courts across the state.

The competition for federal appointments has become a focal point, pitting members of the same party against one another.

During the midterm elections, several members have been accused of working against the party.

In the Presidential election, the APC, which had been in power in the state, lost to the LP. PDP was in third place.

Two senatorial seats and five House of Representatives seats went to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while one senatorial seat and three House of Representatives seats went to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and none went to the Labour Party.

The current governor, Lalong, was unsuccessful in his attempt for reelection as a senator for Plateau South, gaining only one of the region’s six councils (Wase) and losing his council of origin, Shendam.

All of the above suggests that residents of the Plateau were quite picky about who they chose to fill key positions.

Recently, however, some APC veterans in the state voiced fears that schemes were afoot to expel some of them from the party for supposed anti-party activities.

In an interview with journalists in Jos, the State capital, a party chieftain named Hon. Lumumba Dah Adeh expressed concern that the party leadership, acting on instructions from the recently-deposed governor of the State, Simon Lalong, is planning to suspend some of them because they paid a courtesy visit to the newly-appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, in Abuja.

He revealed that not everyone in the State’s party leadership was thrilled with their meeting with the new SGF.

The event caused two lawmakers, Hon. Adeh and Hon. Komsol Alphonsus, to pen a letter to the party’s chairman.

“the letter is to help, particularly the leadership of the party, to avoid plunging the party into an unnecessary crisis as it were,” he said.

He elaborated that the letter was written to the state Chairman and copied to some party leaders at the National level to bring their attention to the situation on the Plateau.

Former member of the House of Representatives (Jos North/Bassa Constituency, 1999–2003) Adeh speculated on the cause of the standoff, saying, “the crux of the matter is that some of us, leaders of the APC from Plateau, who are resident in Abuja, decided to pay a visit to the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Since we are all so close to Abuja, we thought it only right to demonstrate our support for the incoming SGF, Sen. George Akume, a native of the North Central who hails from the days of the Benue/Plateau.

He elaborated, “That’s why we swiftly reached out to those who were within Abuja to go and pay that solidarity visit, congratulated, and also prayed with him.”

The ex-lawmaker continued by saying that, when images from the trip went viral, conflicting narratives emerged from party leaders.

He continued by saying that they had heard from multiple credible sources that former Governor Simon Lalong was unhappy.

Perhaps he wanted that office too but was unable to accept it because of prior commitments.

Adeh, however, pointed out that just because one member of the family was passed up for a promotion does not mean that they should not acknowledge the accomplishments of other members of the family who were similarly fortunate.

After the visit, he continued, “we got informed that virtually everyone on that contingent was pencilled down for some phantom anti-party activities so that they can subsequently suspend or even expel such members from the party.”

Adeh urged the party’s top brass to proceed with prudence in light of the fact that the APC is now appealing its electoral victory at the Tribunal.

But the APC’s state chair, Hon. Rufus Bature, has gone even further, warning that anyone impersonating party elders in the state while engaged in anti-party activities will be subject to disciplinary action under the APC’s bylaws.

People who worked against the party before or during the general election have also been cautioned not to hold their breath for a promotion.

Bature issued the caution at a meeting with party members and other interested parties at the Jos party headquarters.

Former Governor Simon Lalong, his deputy Prof. Sonni Tyoden, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Idris Wase were all in attendance.

Pauline Tallen, a former minister for women’s issues; Dr. Nentawe Yilwtada and Mr. Pam Botmang, APC candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of Plateau; members of the state and national legislators; local government chairmen; party leaders; and many others.

During the last general elections, Bature said, “We are aware of certain members who worked against the interests of our great party, therefore disloyalty will not be rewarded.”

The party’s constitution will be followed, and those who need to be sanctioned will be, the chairman added.

Bature added that the party was alarmed by the behaviour of “self-styled leaders” who were “jumping from pillar to post” in order to secure government jobs.

He went on to say that the Party’s state leadership had discovered a desperate plot to split the party by setting up a rival party office.

Bature confirmed that the APC is aware of and disapproves of these covert operations.

Former governor Simon Lalong called on members in the state to band together in an effort to wrest control of the government back from the PDP.

Lalong stated the party’s goal of “retrieving its stolen mandate” could be attained if its members worked together with one mind.

Concerned that some members’ conduct could lead to “disaffection, disunity, and disintegration” of the party, the ex-governor voiced his opinion publicly.

He claims that if the APC is reinstated in the Jos state government, party members across the country will benefit.

Some have said in recent months that the APC is dead in Plateau, but I believe that through God’s help, the APC will become stronger in Plateau.

Let us band together as we move in to regain our mandate, for there is strength in numbers, and for if we are split up, we may miss our mark.

“I know that in party politics, you can fight, but when you come into your room, you resolve, unite, and forge ahead as one family”, he lectured.

Inquiries have shown that the competition for federal government posts is likely tied to the rising tensions within the State APC, which is led by President Bola Tinubu.

Having failed to win a governorship in the recent election, APC members now believe that federal positions are their only remaining hope.

A senior party member has said, “This is why there is power play to make sure that some are kept out of the way, either through suspension or expulsion.”