From Yakubu Busari,Jos
Drama eschewed in Langtang North Local Government Council of Plateau state at the weekend when the supporters of Hon Beni Butmak Lar, the daughter of the first civilian governor of the state, Solomon Daushep Lar, and the supporters of the former FCT Minister, Sen Jeremiah Timbut Useni clashed over ownership of the party structure .
The clash occurred at the Langtang mini-stadium after affirmation of wards chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, in the LGA.
Trouble started when the existing Executive Committee, led by , Hon. Ventim Black Tyem alleged they have letter from the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja spelling out the suspension of the Senator Useni’s Caretaker Committee members for ” blackmailing the party and mischievously constituting themselves into Local Government Excos.”
Executive Chairman of Langtang North Hon Joshua Ubandoma Laven, is alleged to have sponsored problem. Security personnel had to be called in to prevent the situation from degenerating into a free for all. Yet the clash appears to be the beginning of another round of disagreement among political big wigs in Tarok land, which many believed contributed to Useni’s defeat in the 2019 governorship poll as he did not have full support of one of the largest ethnic group in the state.
When contacted, he, Laven refused to utter a word. He remained silent throughout the questioning.
Our correspondent’s effort to reach out to Senator Useni’s camp prove abortive as some that were approached expressed preference to wait for a formal statement from Useni.
But Hon. Tyem in a recent interactive session with some few media said during the Langtang North Local Government Party Executive meeting when a reconciliation and disciplinary committees was set, had said “After carefully scrutinizing the scenario of the breach of party code of conduct, the LGA executive committee of the party unanimously resolved on the suspension of a factional group, led by Mr. Nankpak Nimmyel as Chairman”.
“The LGA party Executive committee emphasized on the supremacy of the party’s constitution which accordingly serves as a guide to party activities.
“But we have several channels in which the aggrieved members of the party can ventilate their anger, you can’t sit in your bedroom and constitute Caretaker Committee for a party like PDP that has acceptability across the state.
“We had dragged the illegal caretaker Committee before the Divisional Police and they confirmed that it is General Jeremiah Useni Rtd, former Governorship candidate of PDP that sponsored them, we are interested in making peace in the party but those who are bent on dividing the party will be disciplined.”
Hon. Tyem said they were elected during the party’s Congress in accordance with the guideline set up by the National Secretariat of the party and they were duly sworn-in as PDP party Executives of Langtang North Local Government Council.
Hon. Tyem said the reconciliation Committee was headed by Kefas Kumdang Dashe with eight others, while the five man- disciplinary committee headed by Nanman Takbal was to bring the aggrieved members of the party together with a view to resolve all differences ahead of the 2023 polls.
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