A group of minority ethnic communities in Plateau North Senatorial District has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of creating a political system that might keep important positions in the zone within a single ethnic group before the 2027 elections.
Victor Samson, the secretary of the Plateau North Equity Project (PNEP), made these claims on Tuesday during a press briefing in Jos.
Mr Samson stated that this setup could allow the same community to hold onto the Plateau North Senate seat and the deputy governorship seat while also controlling the APC state chairmanship and two of the three House of Representatives seats in the district.
The PNEP has renewed its call for what it calls a fair and just sharing of political offices among all communities in Plateau North.
Plateau North includes Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Jos North, Jos South, and Riyom local government areas.
PNEP claims to represent minority ethnic groups mainly found in Bassa, Jos East, Jos North, and the Ibaas and Ganawuri communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom, respectively.
The group clarified that their campaign does not aim to stop anyone from running for elections. Instead, they want to ensure better inclusion in political opportunities.
“Our concern is not to question the right of any individual or community to aspire to political office,” Mr Samson said during the press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jos.
“Rather, we believe that when a political party or government can influence or zone offices, they should promote fairness and inclusion among all communities.”
Mr Samson added that PNEP had previously reached out to government officials and other political stakeholders about this issue. They also wrote to Governor Caleb Mutfwang to ask for his help.
He mentioned that the group had meetings with representatives of what they called the dominant community in the area to explain their concerns.
According to him, after these efforts did not achieve the desired results, the group held a press conference on June 25.
PNEP pointed out what it sees as a long-standing imbalance in how major political offices are distributed in Plateau North.
The group argued that for years, political leadership in the zone has been focused on one community, leaving minority groups poorly represented.
“True democracy must be built on inclusion, balance, and shared responsibility,” Mr Samson said.
They feel their concerns are even more urgent with the political changes leading up to the 2027 elections.
PNEP believes that the zoning of the APC state chairmanship to Plateau North gives a chance to fix this alleged imbalance.
They argued that since the deputy governorship and senatorial positions are linked to the larger community, a qualified person from one of the minority communities should become the APC state chairman.
However, they said their suggestion was turned down.
The group criticized the process for selecting the APC’s Plateau North senatorial candidate, claiming it again favored the same community.
PNEP asserted that if the APC candidate wins the 2027 election, that community would have held the Plateau North Senate seat for eight of the nine electoral cycles since 1999, except for the 2003, 2007 cycle.
They further claimed that this community currently holds two of the three House of Representatives seats in the district.
Regarding the deputy governorship, PNEP noted that the same community has had occupants of the office in the 1999, 2003, 2003, 2007, and 2007, 2011 terms and currently holds the position through the current deputy governor.
They added that the current deputy governor has also been chosen to run for another term in 2027.
PNEP believes these arrangements have resulted in political power concentrated in one community.
The group found this alarming because they think that community has not provided enough electoral support to the APC over time.
Still, PNEP recognized that political offices should be filled through democratic methods. They want political parties to think about inclusivity when making zoning and nomination choices.
The group is asking President Bola Tinubu, the APC national leadership, and Mr Mutfwang to step in before the 2027 elections.
They specifically want the governor to look into the situation surrounding the Plateau North senatorial seat and to ensure a candidate from one of the minority communities is considered for the deputy governorship.
PNEP warned that not addressing their concerns about political exclusion could harm the APC’s chances in Plateau North and affect the party's situation in Plateau State.
“As the APC prepares for the 2027 elections, it must deal with these critical issues. They could determine not just the future of the APC in Plateau North but also the party's strength and unity in Plateau State,” the group stated.
They mentioned that their members are “fully mobilized” to explore what they called viable democratic options if their concerns are not addressed.
PNEP sees its campaign as a way to ensure political inclusion for minority communities that have faced years of underrepresentation.
The APC and the Plateau State Government did not attend the press conference. Their responses to these claims could not be confirmed at the time of this report.
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