Caucus In Plateau Denies Endorsing Governor Simon Lalong

Ahead of the governorship and state assembly elections in Plateau state, the Joint Izere Peoples Democratic Party Caucus in Jos North and Jos East Local Governments area of the state has dismissed the report that it endorsed Governor Simon Lalong and all other candidates of the All Progressives Congress.

The group stated that the action offends the Afizere Cultural and Community Development Association constitution and the collective sensibilities of its members.

The PDP caucus stated that it has rejected the news which it described as “APC-induced charade”.

The Caucus who spoke through Bitrus Kaze a former House of Representatives member stated that endorsing candidates of a political party by an ethnic group is setting a bad precedent.

Kaze in his statement said, “The neutrality and credibility of the ACCDA have been effectively compromised. We unequivocally reject this APC-induced charade because it offends the Afizere Cultural and Community Development Association (ACCDA) constitution and our collective sensibilities.”

According to him, “Following an emergency meeting summoned by the apex Izere socio-cultural organization at the Izere Arena Jos a few days ago, the Radio and TV arms of the state-owned Plateau Radio Television bombarded the airwaves with reports of a purported resolution endorsing all the APC candidates in the March 9th gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.”

“The endorsement is a brainchild of APC stakeholders across Izere land who became alarmed by their dismal outing in the February 23rd Presidential/National Assembly polls.”

Kaze stated that the National President of the caucus, Luka Madaki should have resigned upon his appointment by the state Governor, Lalong.

“This explains the presence of journalists from PRTV at the outset of a supposedly emergency congress.”

“The neutrality and credibility of the ACCDA have been effectively compromised. We unequivocally reject this APC-induced charade because it offends the ACCDA constitution and our collective sensibilities.”

“It also violates their oath of office, as it sets a dangerous precedent and within the current competitive multi-party democracy on the Plateau, it projects the Izere ethnic nation as primitive.”

“A politically motivated resolution instigated by a desperate ruling party cannot reflect the true wishes of Afizere people.”

“We enjoin our people to jettison this self-serving endorsement and troop out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice.”

“We applaud the courage and exemplary conduct exhibited by the Joint Izere Traditional Council led by their Royal Highnesses Dr. Isaac Wakili (the Agwom Izere) and Ada Emmanuel Ajik HRH (the Agwom Jos Izere) for consistently demonstrating their firm resolve to preserve the sanctity of the traditional institutions in Izere land.”

“We also commend the body of Afizere Christian Clergy for resisting repeated attempts by the APC to hoodwink them into blessing this charade”.