The People Democratic Party in Plateau state has called the authorities to swiftly move as to fastball a breakdown of law and order over what it perceived as PVC fraud which it alleged was to fave the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC Candidate, Nentawe Yilwatda.
The PDP made this known through a statement from its Plateau State Party Publicity Secretary, John T Akans, on Friday 9th September 2022 in Jos the Plateau Capital.
Akans in his statement said that Mahmoud Umar the Plateau State head of ICT of Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) who before now was in Benue State heading the Same office and was working directly under the APC Governorship Candidate Nentawe Yilwatda
“The Peoples Democratic party’s attention has been drawn to a grievous fraudulent and criminal act planned by the Plateau State Government through Mahmoud Umar the Plateau State head of ICT of Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) who before now was in Benue State heading the Same office and was working directly under the APC Governorship Candidate Nentawe Yilwatda. We reliably gathered that Nentawe single-handedly facilitated his redeployment to Jos to achieve his unpopular aspiration.”
“This fraudulent and misleading act is being coordinated by the office of the Secretary to the State Government of Plateau State by demanding permanent voters cards (PVC) from innocent, ignorant, and desperate job seekers (electorates) in exchange for either employment or chicken change as the case may be. It is important to let the general public particularly those seeking work and the Civil servants who have fallen victim to this nefarious act know that there is no correlation between an applicant and even a worker and their PVCs as this only confirms that the APC government is hell-bent on rigging the forthcoming elections since it is their only option and a well-known stock in the trade having lost legitimacy and relevance due to their dismal performance.”
“We are raising this alarm over this nefarious act being perpetrated by Mahmoud Umar INEC head of ICT (who supposedly is to be neutral) in conjunction with Plateau State Government to compromise the 2023 general election. We want to alert the Police and other relevant security agencies to arrest this situation by calling Mahmoud Umar to order as a means of forestalling a breakdown of law and order because people are more enlightened than he thinks and the people are ever ready to defend their constitutional rights.”
“Finally, we call on the electorates in the State to be weary of giving their details and/or their PVC’s to any individual, corporate, or Plateau State government agency, because this is a sure way of mischievously being disenfranchised.”
“Your PVC is the only surest means of electing credible leaders at all levels and citizens should not trade their future to racketeers under any guise.”
The Plateau Vanguard for Democracy (PVD) has defended Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s move to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a strategic political decision driven by wisdom, evolving political realities, and the need to secure long-term gains for Plateau State.
Speaking in a statement issued on behalf of the group, the National Coordinator of PVD, Chris Ishaku, said recent developments within the opposition had vindicated Governor Mutfwang’s political calculations, particularly amid growing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
According to Ishaku, the PDP has steadily drifted into instability, pointing to emerging reports that even the chairman of the Governors’ Forum has also sought another platform for his loyalists.
“Governor Mutfwang saw ahead of many others. The reality today is that the PDP has no clear future, and responsible leaders must position their people where opportunities and stability exist,” Ishaku said.
He said such developments clearly showed that the opposition party was losing cohesion and could no longer provide the stable political platform required to sustain governance and development.
The group maintained that Governor Mutfwang’s alignment with the APC had already started yielding practical dividends for Plateau State, both politically and economically.
PVD specifically cited the growing atmosphere of peace among political elites in the state, noting that the reduction in political hostility and internal rivalry had created a more stable environment for governance.
The group also pointed to the Federal Government’s recent decision to commence work on the Akwanga-Jos road project as one of the immediate gains linked to Plateau State’s improved relationship with the centre.
“The commencement of the Akwanga-Jos road is a practical signal that Plateau is now benefiting from stronger cooperation with the Federal Government. These are the gains of strategic political alignment,” he added.
According to the statement, the strategic road corridor is expected to significantly improve transportation, boost commerce and ease movement into Plateau State, while also enhancing security and economic activities across the region.
Ishaku further argued that with the distractions of internal political bickering substantially reduced, the Mutfwang administration could now focus more squarely on governance, infrastructure and development programmes aimed at improving the lives of Plateau citizens.
The group urged Plateau people to support the governor’s political direction, insisting that the state stands to gain more through unity, stability and constructive engagement with the Federal Government.
Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has received overwhelming support from party faithfuls and residents as he commenced a ward-to-ward tour across the constituency ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
The tour, which is expected to cover wards across Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam Local Government Areas in the coming days, began with a massive turnout of supporters in several wards in Pankshin Local Government Area.
Communities visited during the first phase of the tour included Tal, Jiblik, Garram, Chip, Langkang, Belning, Kangshu, Kadung, and Fier, where large crowds gathered to welcome the federal lawmaker.
Addressing supporters during the visits, Gagdi expressed appreciation for the warm reception and overwhelming show of support, pledging to continue delivering democratic dividends to the people.
He urged constituents to avoid politics driven by bitterness, falsehood, religion, or ethnic sentiments, stressing that leadership should be evaluated based on performance and tangible achievements.
According to him, his focus over the past eight years has been on bringing development and progress to the constituency, assuring the people that he would sustain the momentum if re-elected for another term.
The lawmaker stated that electoral choices should be based on proven records and service delivery rather than the number of times a candidate has contested or won elections.
“My appeal is for the people to vote for someone they know has worked for them and has visible evidence of performance,” he said.
Gagdi further assured constituents of his continued commitment to inclusive representation, development projects, and effective service delivery, noting that he remains dedicated to advancing the interests of the people of Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam Federal Constituency.
He also called on APC faithfuls to support candidates with credible records during the party primaries, describing unity and support for performing leaders as critical to the progress of the party and the constituency.
Yusuf Adamu Gagdi is seeking a third term in the House of Representatives under the platform of the APC.