1st February, 2024.
The All Progressives Congress in Plateau State has just watched a video trending on social media platforms a threat by the Chairman of the Inter- Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to boycott the Saturday rerun election in Plateau state for the vacant seats of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Plateau North Senatorial District.
The IPAC Chairman, Alhaji Dogara Abubakar who claimed to be speaking on behalf of all political parties in the state, said IPAC’s position is that, ” Either each political party participates in the election or no party will participate”
He boastfully threw caution overboard and stated that IPAC understands that,
” One of us is not on the ballot and we sat as ALL (our emphasis) political Party Chairmen and agreed that an injury to one is an injury to all”
The IPAC Chairman continued by stating, “If the PDP is not participating, no party is going to participate”. He ignorantly or mischievously claimed that the position of IPAC is premised on the fact that the Appeal Court in its ruling which nullified the election of Simon Mwadkon and Musa Agah stated that all parties would participate in the rerun electionwhich is far from the truth as the respected jurists could not by any stretch of imagination contemplate that a party which does not exist in the eyes of the law would participate in an election which runs contrary to thier very same judgment.
The APC for the avoidance of doubt, hereby totally and unequivocally dissociates itself from the position of IPAC which is purportedly on behalf of all political parties in the State.
We see the so-called press briefing by the IPAC Chairman as self-serving and a mere expression of personal views which has no bearing on our position as a political party. He claimed that the position was taken this morning when it was realised that the PDP is not participating in the election and “we agreed that we should support one another”. The whole statement smacks of contempt of Court and an affront on the integrity of the judiciary as well as derogation of the Constitutional role of the INEC.
This is a manifest and gross betrayal of trust by Alhaji Dogara Abubakar as no such meeting was held. We want to clearly dismiss his claim as that of a political merchant and a PDP apologist which in a sane democratic clime he should immediately resign from the position as he has betrayed the confidence of political parties in the State. This calls to question why his party has allowed him to remain the SDP Chairman for over 18 years! When has IPAC become a law unto itself?
Just as he was addressing the press, we also witnessed yet another virulent and bizzare outburst by the State Publicity Secretary of the PPD, John Akans which is as threatening to our democracy and peace as it stands utterly condemnable.
While threatening the INEC Federal Commissioner sent to the State for the conduct of the Saturday rerun election on discovering that PDP is not on the ballot, he barked thus:
” We have identified you INEC Commissioner in charge from the national. Let’s see how you are going to conduct this election. You have been our problem on the Plateau”.
He angrily went berserk and continued, ” If you don’t do the right thing, we shall see how this election is going to hold. You are taking us for granted. Let’s see how you are going to do it. You will meet us in the field”
Need anyone tell us who, from the foregoing, is the one portending a menacing threat to the State? This is the familiar trend of the PDP in Plateau State which always uses threat as a lethal weapon of achieving thier selfish interest and damn the consequences.
The security agents should act immediately and proactively to stem the tide before the state is thrown into another cycle of violence and disruption to the peace of Plateau State.
The APC and peace-loving people of Plateau State would not take excuses for an answer as to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
The rerun and bye-elections are taking place in 18 states of the federation. That of Plateau State like other States should be allowed to run its full course.
We are perturbed that a supposed ruling party whose duty it is to protect lives and property in addition to maintaining peace would be threatening rain, thunder and brimstone! Should anyone holding an egg in his hands allow it to break?
All said and done, the APC in the state is fully prepared for the Saturday rerun election which we remain very confident that our candidates, Amb. Chris Musa Giwa and Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan would emerge victorious as Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District and Member Representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency respectively. The Party has campaigned enough throughout the nooks and crannies of the affected Local Governments where the rerun would take place.
We wonder what has suddenly become of the PDP which had thrown caution to the wind by emptily boasting that they would not only be on the ballot but they are the ballot?
We call on security agencies to provide adequate security to all INEC officials and ad hoc staff to be involved in the election to safe us from the lawless PDP in Plateau State. We had warned before that all their claims of being on the ballot are an orchestrated plan to disrupt the election and cause anarchy and mayhem in the State.
A stitch in time, we believe, saves nine.
Signed:
Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary
Kwararafa Reporters 