Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State has said that there may soon be a gale of defections from the ruling party because of the State Governor’s “high level of impunity”.
The stakeholders from Kanam LGA of the state, while addressing journalists in Jos, through Mr. Kalamu Idris Dal, Chairman Lalong APC Project 2019, accused Governor Simon Lalong of substituting the party’s chairmanship candidate in the Council.
Dal said, “The stakeholders of APC in Kanam LGA had a meeting with Governor Simon Lalong last week, and in that meeting the Governor made a verbal confirmation to us, that he was the person that directed the party at the state level, to issue a letter to the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), directing it to change the name of Hon. Abdullahi Mohammed Barau, who is the legitimate candidate with that of Hon. Adamu Abbas Wokdung, whom he defeated during the primary election held in Pankshin, by 172 votes to 95.
“And we told him no, and we are not going to succumb to that decision, that is our word and is final.
“It has become patently worrisome to us that despite the clear observance and adherence of the rule of law by Hon. Abdullahi Mohammed Barau, the Governor has chosen to tow the path of injustice in an attempt to deprive the people of Kanam their popular mandate.
“It amounted to rude shock to us when the Governor openly admitted his complicity in the injustice at a meeting, with the stakeholders on the 17th of August, 2018, with a threat of removal of his appointees from Kanam, the APC Chairman of Kanam LGA and also allowing the exit of the people of Kanam to defect to other parties if they so desire.”
He maintained that, “we view the utterances of the Governor as not only unfortunate, but an insult to our individual and collective sensibilities.
“How else can one justify that a person who is genuinely aggrieved is being threatened and not pacified?
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Governor must note that by appointing the people to occupy positions of responsibilities little or no favour has been done to the APC family in Kanam.
“The Governor should note that he has not reciprocated our gesture in churning out large votes which gave birth to this administration.
“Let it be noted by the world that we shall not accede to insults, threats or intimidation in our quest for justice on this matter come what may because our collective resolve in this matter has since transcended those bounds.
“The gale of defection taking place in some States of the federation is not only peculiar to those States alone, it is about to take place on the Plateau, because of the high level of impunity by Governor Simon Lalong”, he warned.
When contacted, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yakubu Dati, said “I’m not aware that the Governor said that”.
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