Opinion

No amount of campaign calumny will stop Labour Party Plateau candidate – Media Adviser

Published

3 years ago

January 20, 2023

vicky

Media adviser to Patrick Sunday Dakum, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Plateau State, Shabul Mazadu, has said that no amount of campaign calumny against the candidate will stop him from the race.

Speaking with BusinessDay over an alleged campaign of calumny against Dakum by a rival party, Mazadu said that the Labour Party candidate’s popularity and acceptability in the state have gone beyond stoppage.

“Labour Party has no thugs. Dakum has no record of thuggery like others. There is no amount of calumny that will stop Dakum and the Labour Party, Dati can only howl, wail and bray, but judgment is sure at the polls.

“It was funny reading bogus praise of Governor Simon Lalong and vituperations against the venerable Plateau State Labour Party governorship candidate, Patrick Sunday Dakum, by the Chief of Staff to the Director General, Tinubu/Shettima Campaign organisation, Yakubu Dati.

“Dati in an interview with an online paper attempted to cover up for the totally failed leadership of Governor Simon Lalong, and took a swipe at Dakum whose acceptability is skyrocketing at supersonic speed sweeping the entire 17 local government areas of the state, with lies and malicious postulation to whip up sympathy for Lalong whose political ambition is already dancing on the graveyard of extinction waiting for the final whistle at the 2023 general election to be blown.

“Dati, who is an ardent user of political thugs fully backed by Lalong, thinks everyone is like them that’s why he accused Dr Dakum and the Labour Party of using thugs in Shendam on Saturday 31st December 2022 during Bit Goemai, the Goemai annually festival.

“In his interview on the online paper, they were confused and claimed that Dakum was a Senatorial candidate, which is not true. Dakum has no record of ever using thugs, but Lalong and Dati.

“It was the fanatical members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the Bit Goemai who was vexed that so many of their members joined the Labour Party supporters in chanting Sai Dakum that almost invaded the venue of the event.

“The LP supporters were only chanting ‘Sai Dakum and Sai Labour Party.’ Dakum showed displeasure seeing the mood and disappointment in the faces of Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the occasion and governor Lalong, seeing that he stole the day and they were heartbroken.

“This prompted him to publicly apologise and demonstrated love by going all out to embrace and exchange banters with the APC Governorship candidate.”

According to him, “The crowd that graced Dakum’s campaign flag-off in Langtang North and that of Bankilong and Kunkyam in Kanam Local Government Area on Boxing Day, 2022, shattered the APC whose attempts to use the erstwhile Labour Party governorship candidate, Yohana Margif, to stop Dakum met its waterloo at the Federal High Court, Jos.

“Talking of peace, Peter Tosh said, ‘There will be no peace until the man gets equal rights and justice.’And in the absence of equal rights and justice, one side has to play the fool for peace to reign, and that’s the exact thing that Plateau did for peace to reign and not Lalong’s finesse or prowess.”

News

Plateau Information Commissioner Joyce Ramnap, Vindicated as NUJ Rejects Allegations of Journalist Exclusion

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2026

Preport

The Plateau State Ministry of Information and Communication and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, have refuted allegations that some journalists and media publishers were deliberately prevented from covering the recent flag-off ceremony of the state’s ultra-modern abattoir project in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The clarification follows a publication circulated on social media claiming that the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, mni, instructed an aide to stop certain journalists from participating in the coverage of the event held at Pwomol in Heipang District.

In a statement signed by the Special Assistant in the Office of the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Stanley Smiles, the Ministry described the allegation as false, misleading, and without any factual basis.

According to the statement, the groundbreaking ceremony was a public government event, and media participation was coordinated through the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, the umbrella body representing media organizations in the state.

The Ministry emphasized that neither the Commissioner nor any official of the Ministry issued directives to exclude or restrict any journalist or media organization from covering the programme.

It further noted that journalists from various media platforms attended and reported on the event, underscoring the administration’s commitment to transparency, openness, and equal access to information.

The statement added that Commissioner Joyce Ramnap remains dedicated to promoting government activities and ensuring that citizens receive accurate and timely information about the policies, programmes, and projects of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration.

“It is therefore inaccurate to suggest that the Commissioner would deliberately block media coverage of a major government project, as such actions are inconsistent with her responsibilities and established record,” the Ministry stated, urging the public to disregard the publication and rely on verified information from official sources.

In a separate statement, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, also distanced itself from the publication, clarifying that the opinions expressed did not reflect the official position of the Council but were those of the individuals involved.

The statement, jointly signed by NUJ Chairman Ayuku Pwaspo, ANIPR, and Secretary Mary Domtur, acknowledged that while some members were unable to board the vehicles provided for transportation to the venue, they successfully attended the event by making alternative arrangements through personal vehicles and public transportation.

The Council encouraged all concerned parties to adopt dialogue and existing dispute-resolution mechanisms instead of resorting to public narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension within the media industry.

It also observed that administrative decisions relating to media coordination at government functions should not be misconstrued without a proper understanding of established protocols and procedures.

The NUJ commended the Plateau State Ministry of Information and Communication under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap for maintaining productive engagement with media stakeholders and facilitating effective dissemination of government information.

As part of its resolution, the Council passed a vote of confidence on the Commissioner, applauding her commitment to strengthening communication channels between the government and the media.

The NUJ reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom, promoting professionalism in journalism, and fostering mutual respect among journalists, media owners, government institutions, and the public in the overall interest of Plateau State.

News

2027: SDP’s Adebayo kicks against ADC, other parties deregistration

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2026

Preport

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has condemned a court ruling which ordered the deregistration of some political parties, describing the development as unconstitutional, undemocratic and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Adebayo, in a post on his X handle, said there was no constitutional, legal or moral justification for alternative political platforms to be suppressed through government action backed by judicial orders.

According to him, the development is particularly troubling as it comes barely days after the nation marked Democracy Day with celebrations, national honors and renewed commitments to democratic values.

He noted that although his party is not among those reportedly affected, remaining silent in the face of injustice would amount to abandoning democratic principles.

The ADP chieftain called on Nigerians and all defenders of democracy to stand in solidarity with the affected parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Action Alliance, AA, Action People’s Party, APP, Accord Party, AP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.

Adebayo argued that Nigeria’s vast social, cultural, religious, economic and ideological diversity require a broad range of political platforms through which citizens can freely pursue their political aspirations.

He pledged support to the affected parties in their quest for justice and restoration through lawful means, stressing that democratic participation should never be restricted.

The SDP chieftain also advocated constitutional reforms to remove the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register or deregister political parties, limiting the commission’s role to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

He proposed a system where political associations are free to field candidates, subject to statutory deposits, which parties failing to secure a minimum percentage of votes would forfeit.

Adebayo warned against policies capable of raising political tension in the country, urging leaders to focus on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting national development instead.

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court, in a ruling on Monday, had ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Accord Party, and others, and stop them from participating in the 2027 general election.