The Traffic

PLATEAU PDP ELECTS NEW EXCO 

By Yemi Kosoko 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau State chapter has elected new executives to pilot the party’s affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections with Chief Raymond Dabo emerging as State Chairman alongside 38 other officials elected during the State Congress in Jos. 

The Congress which was conducted in adherence to the PDP constitution was peaceful and well-attended by delegates across the 17 local government areas was held on Saturday at the WAYE Foundation in Doi-Du, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau is a major milestone for the party’s internal democracy which has been absent in a while.

At the end of the voting  exercise which was a consensus but in adherence to the Party’s laws, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Hon. David Ombugadu, applauded the peaceful conduct of the congress and the discipline exhibited by delegates.

 He thereafter declared Raymond Dabo winner with 2,162 votes to emerge as Chairman, while Engr. Gyang Tanko secured 2,102 votes as Deputy Chairman. Mr. Michael Dachom emerged as State Secretary  while Dr. Felix Choji clinched the position of Publicity Secretary, among others.

The newly elected chairman in his acceptance speech pledged to operate a transparent, inclusive, and accountable leadership. 
“This is a call to service, not celebration. I will work closely with all stakeholders to strengthen our structures and ensure credible, transparent primaries ahead of the next elections,” Raymond Dabo stated.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang in his remarks described the congress as “a turning point in the journey toward PDP’s resurgence and victory in 2027,” as he commended party members for demonstrating unity, loyalty, and political maturity during the exercise. 
“Since I joined the PDP, this is the first State Congress we are holding without a contest. With this, we have shown commitment to working together as one family and I sincerely thank all the local governments for their cooperation,” the Governor stated.

The Governor also acknowledged the initial disagreements and misunderstanding in the zoning process and the peaceful resolution of those issues which reflected the strength and cohesion of the party.
 He expressed gratitude and appreciation to aspirants who stepped down for the sake of peace and unity, urging every member to rally behind the new executives of the party.
“I want to thank those who may feel short-changed or believe they were not given the chance they deserved. You chose peace over grievance for the common good of our party. The time for exclusion is over — our focus now is unity. Together, we will approach 2027 as one family,” he said.

Governor Mutfwang did not leave behind concerns over reported defections from the party in the state as he expressed confidence in PDP’s grassroots strength, dominance and acceptability in Plateau politics.
“I heard that some people have left. We are waiting to see the day they will go with the crowd they claim to have. Plateau is PDP, and PDP is Plateau. We will remain connected to the people and continue working for their collective good,” the Governor emphasized.

The outgoing Caretaker Committee led by Hon. Chris Hassan was commended for its resilience and achievements with the significant role in securing major electoral victories for the PDP in the 2023 elections before subsequent court decisions altered the party’s representation.

Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present to observe the process and ensure compliance with laid-down procedures as the newly elected executives were sworn into office.