Crisis Imminent In Plateau APC, As Party Elders Set For War With Lalong Over Imposition Ahead  Governorship Primaries

Plateau State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Advisory Council has warned against imposition of candidates on the citizens, noting that it is contrary to the tenets of democracy all over the world.

The council also said the situation had been agitating the minds of Plateau people and heating up the polity unnecessarily.

In a statement, yesterday, acting chairman of the council, Danladi Wuyep, noted that APC had already come out with guidelines on members’ conduct during the primaries.

It advised, therefore, that those who paid for forms be treated fairly and given level-playing ground to participate.

“Where a consensus has been adopted, all the contestants must consent to same by affixing their signatures on a document, which shall serve as evidence of accepting the outcome of such a consensus.

“There should be no imposition of a candidate on the people. Rather, personal interest should be buried to the Plateau project to excel,” the council stated.

ANOTHER group in Plateau known as ‘APC Patriots’ has warned Governor Simon Lalong and other party leaders to avoid the bait of imposing a governorship candidate on its members, saying it will be counter-productive and adversely affect the party.

The Chairman of APC Patriots, Mark Ibrahim, stated, yesterday, that the alleged plan to impose the former Benue State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nentawe Yiltwada, on the party would be resisted.

According to him, it will be disastrous to allow the imposition of an unpopular candidate whose membership of the party is uncertain to fly the party ticket.

He said the scenario that led to the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in 2015 was gradually playing out in APC, noting that Plateau PDP lost the governorship election to APC as a result of imposition.

“Plateau abhors injustice in all its ramifications. The people, especially party members, should not be taken for granted. We need to be consistent and steadfast. The party should be cautious not to dance to the tune of some overzealous and selfish politicians.

“All of us laboured to build the party on the Plateau. Therefore, foisting a candidate on the rest of the aspirants and the party will not only be a disservice but counter-productive in 2023. It may interest the party and members to know that the main opposition party, the PDP in the state has started jubilating over the alleged plan to impose an unpopular candidate on the party,” he stated.

The group, therefore, called on the national leadership of the party to investigate the sudden membership of Dr. Yiltwada and call the state chapter to order, to avoid protest votes in 2023.

Source: G