Political tension is escalating in Plateau State following a direct challenge from a former governor to the sitting executive. Jonah David Jang, a former governor of the state and a chieftain of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has called on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to resign from his position. This demand comes in the wake of Governor Mutfwang's recent decision to leave the PDP.
A Call for Democratic Principles
Jang made this strong declaration during a stakeholders' meeting of the PDP held recently. He argued that Governor Mutfwang's move to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while holding a mandate given under the PDP banner is fundamentally undemocratic. The former governor emphasized that the proper course of action would be for Mutfwang to first resign, then seek a fresh mandate from the people under his new party.
"I don't know where we got this idea of carrying people's mandate without even thinking twice about it to other areas," Jang was quoted as saying. "You should first resign that position, call for a fresh election and then you can recontest in the new party. That should be the right democracy."
Ripple Effects of the Defection
Governor Mutfwang's political shift, which he attributed to a desire to provide "purposeful leadership," is causing significant realignments within Plateau's political landscape. The stakeholders' meeting where Jang spoke was primarily convened to discuss the serious ramifications of the governor's departure from the PDP.
Jang further used the opportunity to criticize the broader Nigerian political system, which he blamed for allowing the indiscriminate defection of elected officials. He stated that such practices have a deeply negative impact on the nation's democratic foundations and erode public trust.
Jang Denies Own Defection Rumours
In a related development, the former governor took time to dismiss persistent rumours suggesting he himself is planning to defect to the ruling APC. Jang described these speculations as the work of detractors aiming to sow "confusion, tension, and mistrust" in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections. He labeled any narrative linking him to an APC move as misleading.
The defection wave is not limited to the governor. Legit.ng reports that a former House of Representatives member from the state, Dachung Bagos, has also officially left the PDP for the APC. Bagos pledged his support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Mutfwang, and the APC's stance on critical issues like state police and local government autonomy. His move is seen as part of the ongoing political recalibration triggered by the governor's party switch.
The political atmosphere in Jos, the Plateau State capital, remains charged as stakeholders and citizens await Governor Mutfwang's formal response to the resignation call and observe the continuing realignment of political forces in the state.
