From Yakubu Wuyep, Jos
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Plateau State minority ethnic nationalities in the Plateau North have rejected the lopsided dominance of a particular tribe, and challenged what they described as a systematic concentration of political power in the hands of a single dominant ethnic group ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, under the aegis of the Plateau North Equity Project (PNEP) at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jos, accused the party of sidelining communities that have remained its most loyal electoral backbone since its formation.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the former Chairman of Jos East Local Government Area, Evangelist Arum Daniel Izang, painted a disturbing picture of what he termed a growing culture of exclusion and political imbalance within the APC, particularly in Plateau North Senatorial District.
According to Izang, PNEP is a peaceful advocacy platform established by minority ethnic communities across Plateau North to promote fairness, justice, inclusion, and equitable distribution of political opportunities among the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district.
He explained that the movement was born out of increasing concerns that the principles of balanced representation and shared political responsibility were gradually being eroded.
Tracing the political history of the APC in Plateau State, the group recalled that the party rose to prominence in 2015 largely on the strength of its commitment to equity, fairness, justice, and the preservation of the rotational political arrangement that had long served as a stabilising factor in the state.
The coalition noted that throughout the years, minority ethnic communities in Plateau North remained steadfast in their support for the APC even during difficult periods when opponents consistently portrayed the party in negative terms.
Despite intense political pressure and hostile narratives, the communities, according to PNEP, continued to mobilise support, votes, and grassroots structures that helped sustain the party’s electoral relevance.