2023: LP, PDP & APC Who Occupies Little Rayfield In Plateau

Yakubu Busari

The intrigues of Nigerian politics and the subsequent betrayal by our politicians that has created a vacuum of hatred, acrimony, bigotry and character assassination all in a bid to remain relevant in chasing selfish agendas.

As the build-up to the 2023 general elections kicks off, the youths have taken their stand to ensure that politicians who have continued to use divide and rule can’t find a space to operate smoothly again by promoting ethnic, tribal, and religious personal gain, when the election is held next year.

The frustrated, aggrieved, and jobless Nigerian youths are set to take their pound of flesh for revenge and set direction on who would be the next President of Nigeria not minding religion or where the power shift goes to.

The ASUU strike which has lasted for several months serves as an eye opener to most of them that who have been cut off from societal betterment due to poor leadership and the present economic challenges in the country.

Narrowing it down to the race to Little Rayfield in Plateau State, at least no fewer than three strong political parties are now jostling for the only gubernatorial seat of the State Government House, the Labour Party Candidate, Dr Patrick Dakum , Barr.Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Dr Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress , APC, are the candidates to watch in the state.

However, with the season of politicking which is drums are being beat here and there, many political parties are getting set for their campaigns ahead of next year’s general elections.

Plateau state has the All Progressives Congress (APC) which came into power in 2015 as a result of protest votes has been in the seat of power in Plateau after 16 years of PDP’s following Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999.

However, three parties are now top in the race for the coveted seat. Our correspondent is looking at the challenges of the three parties and it has beamed its searchlight on that, that can make or mar their chances.

Besides the electioneering campaign train, about fifteen of the 18 political parties that will be fielding candidates for next year’s governorship election in Plateau.

The parties, according to a list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are the All-Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Accord Party (A), the African Action Congress (AAC), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Also contesting are the African Democratic Party (ADP), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the National Rescue Movement (NRM), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Young Progressive Party (YPP). Others are the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), the Action Peoples’ Party (APP), and the Boot Party (BP).

But, despite the array of political parties, observers believe it is going to be a three-horse race between the LP, APC and the PDP.

This medium gathered that APC  is likely to play the role of a ‘spoiler’ by getting some of the votes that are supposed to go to the PDP owing to the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the jettison of zoning arrangement by the PDP and internal crises rocking both APC, PDP although the double nomination by LP is still steering Dakum in the face.

The PDP stakeholders have taken a fresh twist of trading blames between Jang, Useni and an APC stalwart is seen chasing a dark game of a smooth ride to PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and the two major parties have been engaged in verbal attacks in recent times. For instance, the PDP candidate, Caleb Mutfwang, has accused the APC of entertaining fear of losing the election.

He said the ruling party APC is plotting intimidating tactics and had already lost the grip of supporters so they are trying to rubbish the opposition, PDP.

Governor Simon Lalong is seen as someone that is being sidelined by the Muslim community in the recent bye-election by voting overwhelmingly for PRP to disgrace him, he is employing underhand tactics, using its regulatory agencies to destroy billboards placed in strategic locations by aggrieved aspirants who have defected to LP, PDP respectively.

He downplayed the chances of the opposition in next year’s elections in Plateau.

Sources within the APC, and PDP   parties have warned that it is going to record its worst performance in Plateau during the next governorship election. It was learnt that there is a crisis of confidence among 8 aspirants who challenged the outcome at the Federal High Court being presided by Justice Dorcas Agishi.

Some have alleged that the party’s structure and mechanism have been hijacked by aliens and strangers, who are now at the helm of affairs of the party on a plateau.  These people were said to be enjoying the favour of some party chieftains, who have cleverly shoved the party executive aside in the day-to-day running of the party.

However, the release of the former governor Joshua Chibi Dariye has been described as a greenhorn in politics as some called him the Head boy,  others have, however, countered his comics, saying he stands a chance of anointing Dakum to win the election on the LP  platform next year.

He started as a commissioner for information and communication with Dariye in PDP   but later joined the APC during the administration of Governor Lalong .

The defection of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to LP and his subsequent emergence as the party’s presidential candidate has brought a sort of renaissance to the party. With Obi’s candidature, the LP is enjoying smooth sailing at the national level. But the same can’t be said of its in-Plateau chapter.

The APC in the state has been embroiled in a series of insider battles.

But, the candidature has remained a subject of dispute, as the “placeholder”, between Dakum and  Margif who refused to step down for him.

Political pundits have described as a comedy the decision of the LP national leaders to issue a certificate of return to Margif considering the election that threw Margif up as the party’s candidate is fraudulent. “Have written INEC of his official resignation and had gone to court to make a declaration on oath that I have not withdrawn my candidature. I am still alive; I haven’t abandoned my ticket”. Under this circumstance, the party does not stand much of a chance in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.