A factional Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly, Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, has petitioned Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) demanding total cancellation of congresses conducted in Plateau State by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmaker said Governor Simon Lalong and his supporters didn’t carry members of the House of Assembly, critical stakeholders and other party’s faithful along in the process leading to the selection of executives from Ward, Local government and the state.
In a petition dated 22nd of October, 2021 but made available to newsmen Thursday in Abuja, Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba said the governor Lalong can’t talk about the national convention when Plateau State APC is still in crisis.
The petitioner appealed to Governor Mai Mala Buni-led leadership to correct what he described as injustice against majority members of Plateau APC by conducting fresh congresses in the state.
The petition read in part: “The Governor of Plateau State has among other things being very undemocratic with the way party issues are handled. From the way, he chose to oust the former Chairman, Mr Letep Dabang out of office because Letep Dabang always threaded caution and advised against using unconfirmed reports from praise singers to make informed decisions and this didn‘t go well with the Governor.
“The appointment of Excos across all levels (ward, LGA and State) this is what played out in Plateau State, the Governor and his supporters didn’t carry members of the House of Assembly along with critical stakeholders and party faithful. This move currently generating tension among party faithful as they seem not to agree with this undemocratic measure. Some are even threatening legal action.
“As the leader of the party in the House of Assembly, I made several efforts to discuss these challenges with the Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon Simon Lalong with intentions of proffering political solutions but all these fell on deaf ears. He has continuously threatened and claimed that I am not loyal to him.
“As a party faithful and a legislator, I chose to write today for the sole reason of posterity and my love for our great party, that if nothing is done we (APC) will experience a repeat of Zamfara in Plateau state (GOD forbid).
“This great party allowed me used its platform to showcase my political intentions and aspirations as well. I will be sad if our party doesn’t get things right especially with the Congresses held recently.”
While insisting that the ousted acting state chairman, Mr Letep Dabang, remain the recognised APC state chairman in Plateau state, the factional State Assembly Speaker, warned against the repeat of Zamfara State experience in Plateau state.
“My prayer is that the congresses be cancelled and a new one conducted whether through consensus, but we must ensure that the intentions of the party are protected while carrying along with the interests of all stakeholders so we can deliver come 2023.
“May God bless you as you consider correcting this mistake in rebuilding our great party.”
