By Faith Chondol
The Plateau North Equity Project (PNEP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of perpetuating political imbalance in Plateau North and demanded fairer distribution of key offices ahead of the 2027 elections.
PNEP Secretary, Hon. Victor Samson, made this known on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jos the Plateau State Capital.
The group, which describes itself as a peaceful advocacy coalition of minority ethnic communities across Plateau North, said its campaign was aimed at securing greater political inclusion across Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom Local Government Areas.
According to Samson, PNEP had previously engaged government stakeholders and members of what it described as the numerically dominant community in the zone before formally writing Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, seeking intervention over what it considered a longstanding imbalance.
The group said it also raised the matter at an earlier press conference on June 25, 2026, but claimed that its concerns had not received the desired response.
PNEP specifically raised concerns over the emerging distribution of major political positions within the APC, alleging that the same community could occupy the Plateau North Senate seat and Deputy Governorship while also controlling the APC State Chairmanship and two of the three House of Representatives seats in the zone.
The group said its concern became more pronounced after the APC zoned its state chairmanship to Plateau North, arguing that the opportunity should have been used to produce a qualified candidate from one of the minority communities.
PNEP further alleged that the APC’s process for selecting its Plateau North senatorial candidate again favoured the same community.
The claim follows the emergence of former Senate Minority Leader Simon Mwadkwon as the APC’s Plateau North senatorial candidate in the party’s May 2026 National Assembly primary.
The group also cited what it described as historical patterns in the distribution of the Plateau North Senate seat and Deputy Governorship since 1999, arguing that minority communities had not received a proportionate opportunity to occupy the offices.
PNEP stressed, however, that its campaign was not intended to prevent any individual or community from contesting elections.
“Our concern is not to question the right of any individual or community to aspire to political office,” the group said, insisting that political opportunities should promote fairness, inclusion and shared responsibility among the constituent communities.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, the party’s leadership and Governor Mutfwang to intervene, particularly over the Senate and Deputy Governorship positions.
PNEP said it remained committed to pursuing the matter through peaceful and democratic means, while urging political leaders to address what it described as the marginalisation of minority communities before the 2027 elections.
The group warned that the unresolved disagreement could affect the unity of the APC in Plateau North and across Plateau State, while saying its members were prepared to explore “viable democratic options” to pursue their demands.
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