Why Plateau deputy governor, Gen. Useni, Dariye, others dump PDP for APC

It was gathered that Dariye, Useni, Tapgun and Cheto have been in secret meetings with top politicians across the 17 local government areas of the state to canvass votes for the APC candidates for the two elections

Plateau State on Tuesday witnessed mass defection of prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. Among those who defected were a former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye; Ambassador Fedelis Tapgun; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, General Jeremiah Timbut Useni: Senator Victor Lar; and the state’s Deputy Governor, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan. Also, a former Minister and former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen; Engineer Jimmy Cheto; and Chief Jethro Akun have concluded plans to move to the APC ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections. It was gathered that Dariye, Useni, Tapgun and Cheto have been in secret meetings with top politicians across the 17 local government areas of the state to canvass votes for the APC candidates for the two elections. Meanwhile, a group of supporters of the APC on the platform of Advocacy Campaign, in a press statement signed by Comrade Saddiq Agamah Sumbelep, said Dariye’s group has resolved to defect formally to the party on April 9, 2015. Sumbelep disclosed that the defection to the APC is to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots. Sumbelep said the launching of the “Vote All Progressives Congress candidates across Plateau State Advocacy Campaign” is aimed at mobilizing voters in Plateau State to vote for the governorship and state Assembly candidates of the APC on April 11, 2015. He added that Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will be the chief launcher of the VAPCAPSA campaign. The chairman of the event will be former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, a former speaker House of Representatives, as the guest speaker. Sumbelep decried the high level of unemployment, hooliganism, hunger, abduction, rape, religious intolerance, stealing and smuggling going in the country. He congratulated President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory. He equally called on the citizens to replicate same in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

Published by: The Eagle Online