The North Central All Progressive Congress (APC) Forum has cautioned the Plateau State chapter of the party against what it termed swindling of aspirants seeking elective positions in the forth-coming local government election, saying such act will be harmful to success of the party at the polls.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Jos the Plateau State capital the forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Mandung Zazzaga said they gathered that the party is planning to sell the nomination forms at exorbitant prices, and that they don’t have any meaningful framework or structure that will give the aspirants maximum advantage against other political parties, especially the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He lamented that the APC leaders in Plateau are not on ground and that they have since recoiled into their shells since the Supreme Court judgement which gave Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP victory.
“It is so bad that APC leaders from Plateau State had to go and meet in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for a reconciliatory engagement and planning on how to reposition the party for greater successes ahead 2027 general election in the state. Why Nasarawa State? That is an absolute sign that the party in not on ground in Plateau, and their preparedness for the forthcoming election is not looking solid enough.
“But the fillers we are getting is that they only want to collect nomination fees from the aspirants at exorbitant prices, but without any solid framework and structure to drive the aspirations to victory. That is unacceptable. So, there is need for us to sit down to strategize and plan very well on how to excel at the local government election, and to use it as a stepping stone towards a bigger and more formidable strategy towards the 2027 general election,” he said.
He said local politics cannot be won from outside, and therefore called on all the party officials operating from outside on local political or party matters to be more on ground engineering different political activities to show that the party is still a force to reckon with in the state, saying that it will give the members/supporters, aspirants and the general masses hope on the party.
Meanwhile, Zazzaga called on the citizens of the state and all the political parties participating in the election to be peaceful in their political activities before, during and after the polls, saying that no meaningful progress can be made in n atmosphere of rancor and chaos.
He also called on Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to endeavour to conduct a free, fair and credible election without fear or favour, pointing out that they are the hope of the people, and that any wrong action from them can deprive the people of their electoral voice and rights.
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