Former Plateau State Governor, Sen Jonah David Jang, has declared that despite Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, he still remains a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governor until the APC gives him their own mandate in 2027 if they so wish.
The former governor and senator who is fondly called Dara and one of the few remaining stalwarts in the PDP in the state, while addressing the party stakeholders during a press conference in Jos on Friday, said Mutfwang still holds the mandate of the PDP given to him by the people of the state and advised people to stop addressing him as an APC governor until he gets their mandate in 2027.
“His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang remains the PDP Governor despite his recent defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Until the APC in the state gives him another mandate come 2027, that is when he will cease to be a PDP Governor,” Dara Jang, who was the state governor from 2007 to 2015, emphasized.
He, however, argued that the wave of defections by politicians “toward a political convergence under one dominant party” amounts to a dangerous march, will lead to a one-party state, and must be resisted by all democrats.
He said, “The PDP remains the only surviving organic political party since 1998, endowed with the historical resilience, institutional depth, and national character to withstand internal and external pressures.
“The PDP is more than a political platform; it is a democratic institution. The party has played a pivotal role in stabilizing Nigeria’s democracy since 1999 and providing opportunities for countless Nigerians to serve at various levels of governance.”
Sen. Jang further called on the party leaders in the state to prioritize people-centred interests over personal ambitions, noting that strong political parties remain the bedrock of democratic stability.