Former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, explained on Wednesday that voters rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the party, which had ruled for the past seven years, inflicted hardship and suffering on the people. Consequently, the electorate chose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Caleb Mutfwang, who won the March 18 governorship poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced the results at its Collation Centre in Jos on Monday. Mutfwang secured 5,252,999 votes, defeating 17 other candidates, including the APC’s Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, who received 481,370 votes.
In a statement signed by his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, Jang maintained that Plateau residents turned away from the APC because of the hardships the party caused. He added that the 2023 election demonstrated a growing political awareness among the people, who took their destiny into their own hands when selecting their leaders. “We must confess that Plateau is endowed with people of character, capacity, will and strength to further the cause of the state,” Jang said. “This keenly contested election featured some of Plateau’s finest politicians, and now that the people have decided in favour of the PDP, we rejoice with the winner.”
Jang described the jubilant reaction to the gubernatorial results as instructive, noting that Plateau’s citizens had endured untold hardship before recognizing the need for change and returning to the PDP, a party that had previously had a tremendous impact on their lives. He congratulated the governor‑elect and urged him not to betray the confidence placed in him by the people. He admonished the incoming governor to “embrace everyone,” reminding him that he will now be responsible for the wellbeing of not only his party members and supporters but also all Plateau residents across party lines.
“Many sacrifices were made by Plateau people to give him the mandate to govern, some even paying the supreme price with their lives,” Jang said. “All these sacrifices were borne out of the passion to see a new Plateau; the incoming governor therefore cannot afford to fail his people.” He recalled the governor‑elect’s campaign promise to carry everyone along, irrespective of tribe, religious affiliation, political inclination, or other leanings. “The time to prove to the world that he meant every word is now—be magnanimous in victory and be the leader everyone will love to have.”
Comments are closed for this story.