THE phrase “once bitten, twice shy” aptly captures what happened at the Plateau State Congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 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 pretext. For a long time, this appears to be the best state congress in the history of the Plateau PDP, despite its dominance and strength.
Recall that the series of litigations that followed the 2014 party congress, in which some stakeholders sued the party over the congress, eventually became the party’s albatross in the general elections of 2023. The opposition party used the event to question the overall success of the PDP in the state, national assembly and gubernatorial elections, alleging 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 that it had earlier won from the All Progressives Congress in the Election Petitions Tribunal. Governor Caleb Mutfwang narrowly escaped the tsunami. Despite winning a large number of votes in 2023, the PDP lost all seats, leaving the governor as the only candidate elected on the PDP platform.
Without a doubt, Plateau State has been a stronghold of the PDP since the inception of this political administration. Although he lost the governorship to the APC in 2015 due to political miscalculations, he regained it in 2023 but eventually lost all seats in both the state and national assemblies inexplicably.
Still reeling from the opposition party’s loss of all elected legislative seats in the state, Sunday Tribune learned that key members of the party in the just-concluded state congress maintained a firm stance to ensure that the right thing was done to prevent the mistakes of the past, even in the face of attempts by a select few to force their will.
Fearing controversy, a source close to the party told the Sunday Tribune that the seats to be contested were strategically zoned in different parts of the state and they were mandated to field candidates of their choice, which was executed perfectly smoothly, resulting in a smooth state congress last Saturday.
Sunday Tribune observed that those charged with the responsibility of running the Congress ensured that all regulations were strictly followed as they were fully aware that anyone could be watching to benefit from any hint of an act of omission that might arise in the process.
Even though there was no opposition in all positions, the organizers followed the procedures and rules. Delegates from the state’s seventeen local governments were accredited and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also on the ground to observe the congress.
The Chairman of the Congressional Election Committee, Rt. Hon. David Fatchar, was ably supported by other distinguished members including the President of Kaduna State, Mr. Edward Charles; Mrs. Abigail Adar; Mrs. Fumilayo Johnson of Lagos State; and Barrister Atanko Beji, outgoing Chairman of the PDP in Niger State and Chairman of the PDP Presidents Forum in the North Central Zone, who served as Secretary of the committee.
In his opening statement speech to the congress, the acting state president of the party, Hon. Chris Hassan, appreciated the party members for their strategic political wisdom and loyalty, especially for reasons of fairness and balance and for zoning the presidency position in the Southern Zone.
Honorable. Hassan expressed hope that with the way the 2027 elections will be held, it will be one-way traffic for the PDP, more so because all members and stalwarts of the party are on the same page.
“You remember that in the past we did not have a leader. But today we do. And because of that, I can boldly say that in 2027, our members of the House of Assembly and the National Assembly will remain firmly PDP. We are bringing everyone together under a broad-based consensus, guided by party discipline and unity,” he said.
Speaking shortly before the election, Governor Caleb Mutfwang acknowledged the fact that since joining the party, this was the first congress without competition, 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 of our local government chapters. I know that when these positions were shared, some people had reservations about one name or another. But let me remind us: we will not allow angels to come down from heaven to lead our party. Each of us has one challenge or another.”
The survey was conducted in a serene environment and was closely monitored by INEC officials. Without any opposition, the 39 candidates who ran for office were elected. As the election result was announced, thousands of supporters of the local party, WAYE, beat drums to celebrate what they called the dawn of a new era. The 39 members of the state executive took office amid jubilation, with Chief Raymond Dabo as chairman.
In his acceptance speech, the new President-elect, Chief Dabo, said his election along with others was a call to duty and assured that the new executive would conduct transparent, credible and inclusive primaries that would strengthen the party for future elections.
He further stated: “If someone had told me that today I would be sworn in as the state president 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 accept it with unity and commitment.”
After the inauguration, Governor Mutfwang tasked the new executives with uniting the party within their areas of influence and ensuring that all divisions were resolved, stating that the era of exclusion was over.
“This is a season of renewal and alignment. Those who truly belong will stay, and those who don’t will naturally drift away. Don’t be rattled by any reorganization; stand firm. Every grievance will be addressed and no one will be discriminated against.
“I urge you to put aside selfish interests. If anyone doubted your ability 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 should be no sides or factions in the party. As of today, factionalism in the Plateau PDP is over. We are one family, under one leadership, under one umbrella.”
Former governor of the state, Senator Jonah Jang, also said that the peaceful congress marked an important milestone in the party’s journey and praised Governor Mutfwang for his leadership and dedication in ensuring a free, fair and credible congress.
“This congress, widely considered peaceful and in which all candidates emerged largely through consensus, demonstrates the strong bond between Governor Mutfwang and the people of Plateau State. The impressive turnout of thousands of party supporters indicates that the people who voted him into office in 2023 remain firmly behind him and will support him again in 2027,” Jang said.
Later, the elected officials and former state executives of the PDP were invited to a dinner at the Government House, where the governor congratulated the newly elected State Executive Committee headed by Hon. Chief Raymond Dabo aka Uncle Ray 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 praised former Information Commissioner, Hon. Gregory Nyenlong; former Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Davou Mang; and other candidates who voluntarily resigned during the last congress for the sake of peace, unity and party cohesion.
Referring to recent political speculation over his alleged planned defection to the APC, Governor Mutfwang said it was true that attempts had been made to get him to join the APC; he refused, emphasizing that his political journey is divinely guided by God and anchored in the will of the people of Plateau. “Many would like me to join them to give 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, Political Advisor and Special Duty to the Governor, Hon. Istifanus Mwansat, said such affliction on the flimsy ground of lack of political structure will never arise again, stressing that losing the entire state and national assembly to the APC in 2023 was extremely disturbing and traumatic.
“It was clear and evident that the people of Plateau rejected the APC in 2023, but they achieved victory through the back door. With Saturday’s congress, which produced 39 elected state executives, they will have nothing to rely on in 2027,” he said.
In addition to 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 that an exercise of this type was carried out by consensus and without acrimony. Those who have been following the political developments in the state said it was a political renaissance and a new dawn for the party, which seems to have learned from its past failures.
Something quite unique about the Plateau PDP: interests were aligned and members adopted a give-and-take attitude that was rare before. Analysts believe that if the national party, currently immersed in a serious crisis, adopts the same approach to its problems, the excessive crisis will be a thing of the past.