Yakubu Busari, Jos
Allegations of fraud, bad leadership and manipulation are rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in Plateau State as some aggrieved members have come together and petitioned the state and national leadership of the party demanding for the probe of the activities of state party chairman, Mr Letep Dabang.
The spokesman of the petitioners, Mr Youmpee Jalmet alleged that the state Chairman has “hijacked monies from sales of chairmanship and councillor-ship forms running into N192 million, contracts with SUBEB and MDG worth N73 million) and 5 per cent deductions from party appointees.
“In what remain unknown to the supporters of APC on the plateau is whether the leadership of Lateb can deliver on its campaign promises of 2014 that led to sacking of PDP in office . Confusion hits the party when members can’t openly pronounce APC or canvass for support again in the forthcoming general elections by 2019.”
Dabang has refuted the allegations, describing them as false. He stated that he is unaware of any petition on the matter to authorities of the party.
As the leader of the party in the state, such allegations are not unusual because of the complexity and diversity within the party. But I remain committed to leading APC to loftier heights. Distraction such as these will not deter me from steering the party to victory in 2019.”
Drama has however continued to trail the recent dissolution of the party structure in the state as former exco members are engaging stakeholders to endorse them for re-election.
In a related development, a group under the aegis of concerned APC stakeholders in Plateau state have raised concern over alleged attempts to divide the party in the state in disobedience to directives from the national leadership.
In a press statement made available to our correspondent in Jos on Wednesday, Amos Jesus criticised what he called undemocratic tendencies of the state leadership of the party and the Governor, Simon Lalong for his statement that the Congresses in the state should have some monitors different from those contained in the directives of the national leadership.
They said is creating a serious threat to the APC in the state and this could be bad signal to president Buhari stand of fairness with the directive that Congresses be held at all levels.
Already ,”there are aspirants springing and warming up to contest all the positions at all levels as directed by the leadership .Therefore ,any attempt to short change this decision will be counter productive and this will spell doom for APC in the state”.
“In a meeting of stakeholders across the seventeen LGA of the state, the Governor and his co-travelers are advised to shelve this idea and allow democracy to thrive or else there is likely going to be crisis in the party and fractionalisation is eminent”
