From Christiana Gokyo, Jos
A former Governor of Plateau State and ex-Senator representing Plateau North, Jonah David Jang, has reaffirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s democracy, warning against what he described as a drift towards a one-party state driven by widespread political defections.
Jang, a founding member of the PDP, said the growing defection trend was anti-democratic and should be resisted by true democrats.
He spoke during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting of the PDP held at the party’s secretariat in Jos, a communiqué of which was issued at the end of the meeting.
According to him, the PDP remains the only surviving organic political party since 1998 and possesses the historical resilience and institutional strength to overcome its current challenges.
“The PDP is more than a political platform; it is an indispensable political institution that has played a central role in the growth and sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999,” Jang said.
He noted that many individuals had benefited from the party’s platform, having been given opportunities to serve at various levels of governance over the years.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders of the party in the state, including all local government party chairmen and members of the Board of Trustees, among them Jang, Ambassador Bagudu Mutle Hirse and Professor Gabriel Ganyir Lombin.
Jang urged the party’s leadership at all levels to place people-centred interests above personal considerations, stressing that strong political parties were essential for democratic stability and sustainability.
In their remarks, Lombin and Hirse said they were honoured to serve as members of the PDP Board of Trustees, pledging continued loyalty to the party’s vision and mission.
They expressed satisfaction that Plateau State remained a traditional stronghold of the PDP, describing the party as alive, strong and resilient in the state, despite reports of defections in some sections of the media.
Earlier, the Chairman of the PDP in Plateau State, Raymond Dabo, thanked stakeholders for attending what he described as a historic engagement, particularly commending the Board of Trustees members led by Jang for their guidance and unwavering loyalty.
Dabo assured participants that the current state leadership was committed to a comprehensive rebranding of the party aimed at rebuilding and strengthening it as the most viable platform for a balanced and prosperous Plateau State.
The stakeholders identified the need for greater internal unity and cohesion, improved communication between party leadership and grassroots members, and stronger inclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
Based on these observations, the meeting resolved to sustain a high-level reconciliation drive to address internal grievances and foster unity within the party.
It also resolved to implement a comprehensive internal communication strategy, strengthen leadership accountability through regular reporting, and adopt affirmative actions to ensure inclusive participation of women, youths and other marginalised groups in party structures.
The stakeholders further agreed on an implementation plan with clear timelines and assigned responsibilities to guide the execution of the resolutions.
The PDP reaffirmed its commitment to overcoming what it described as temporary challenges through an inclusive, transparent and collaborative approach, while expressing appreciation to all stakeholders for their dedication to the party’s success.