A coalition of minority ethnic communities in Plateau North Senatorial District under the umbrella of the Plateau North Equity Project (PNEP) has expressed concern over what it described as the growing concentration of political power within a single ethnic group in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jos, leaders of the group said PNEP was established to advocate for equity, fairness, and balanced political representation across the six local government areas that make up Plateau North.
The group argued that while minority ethnic communities in the zone have consistently provided substantial electoral support to the APC since its formation in 2014, they have remained underrepresented in key political and party leadership positions.
According to PNEP, the APC gained widespread support in Plateau State partly because it was perceived as a platform that upheld fairness, inclusiveness, and justice, particularly following efforts to sustain the state’s rotational governorship arrangement. The group maintained that minority communities in Plateau North remained loyal to the party despite political challenges and negative perceptions associated with the APC over the years.
The coalition cited electoral records, which it claimed show that minority ethnic nationalities have contributed significantly to the party’s electoral successes in the senatorial district. It noted, however, that major political positions have often been occupied by members of what it described as the numerically dominant ethnic community in the zone.
PNEP said concerns intensified following the recent APC party congresses and primary elections, which it alleged further entrenched the dominance of one ethnic bloc in the party’s leadership structure.
The group recalled that when the position of APC State Chairman was zoned to Plateau North, it and other stakeholders advocated for the emergence of a candidate from one of the minority ethnic communities, arguing that such an arrangement would have promoted inclusivity, especially as the offices of Deputy Governor and Plateau North Senator are already occupied by individuals from the same dominant ethnic group.
According to the coalition, those appeals were not heeded, resulting in what it described as a missed opportunity to achieve a more balanced power-sharing arrangement within the party.
PNEP also raised concerns over the emergence of the APC’s senatorial candidate for Plateau North, claiming that if elected in 2027, the position would have been occupied by members of the same ethnic community for eight out of nine electoral cycles since the return of democratic rule in 1999.
The group further noted that the same community currently holds two of the three House of Representatives seats in the senatorial district, a situation it said could lead to an unhealthy concentration of political influence.
It warned that the emerging political landscape could see the same ethnic bloc controlling the offices of Deputy Governor, Senator, State Party Chairman, and a majority of federal legislative seats in Plateau North under the APC platform.
PNEP maintained that its advocacy is not intended to create division but to encourage greater inclusion and recognition of the contributions of minority communities to the growth and electoral fortunes of the APC in the state.
The coalition urged the party leadership to reflect on the implications of excluding loyal supporters from meaningful political participation, warning that such developments could affect party unity and electoral strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, the group called on party leaders and stakeholders to embrace a more equitable approach to political appointments and elective positions in order to strengthen cohesion within the APC and ensure that all communities feel adequately represented.