Resist One-Party System, Plateau Peoples Democratic Party Urges Nigerians

The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to resist a growing drift towards a one-party system.

The party gave the charge at a stakeholders’ engagement held at the PDP state secretariat in Jos at the weekend.

The party warned that mass defections and personal ambitions within political parties threaten the foundations of democracy.

The meeting brought together the party leadership, local government chairmen and senior members of its Board of Trustees (BoT), including former Plateau State governor and ex-senator Jonah Jang, former ambassador and minister Bagudu Hirse, and Gabriel Lombin, among others.

The engagement, which lasted several hours, focused on internal party cohesion, democratic accountability and strategies to reinforce the PDP’s presence in Plateau State ahead of future elections.

Former governor of the state and founding member of the PDP, fondly called ‘Dara’, Senator Jonah Jang, while addressing the gathering, cautioned that democracy cannot thrive without strong and competitive political parties.

He said the recent wave of defections undermines political institutions and concentrates power in ways that threaten governance.

“Nigeria is the only country I know where someone is elected on the platform of one party and carries that party’s mandate to another party,” Jang said.

“That mandate does not belong to the individual. It belongs to the party and the people.”

Recalling the PDP’s origins in the struggle against military rule, he highlighted the contributions of the G-18 and G-34 groups that challenged the Abacha regime and laid the groundwork for Nigeria’s return to democracy.

“The PDP is the only political party in Nigeria that was not formed through a merger,” he said. “If you go to any village in this country, you will hear the name PDP. Other parties make shift arrangements.”

Despite recent defections, including Governor Mutfwang’s move to the APC, Jang insisted that the PDP’s relevance remains intact. “There will be no carcass of PDP,” he said. “The carcasses will belong to other parties.”

He also warned against the emergence of a one-party state, describing it as a threat to decades of democratic sacrifices.

“God forbid that Nigeria becomes a one-party state. Some of us, even at our age, will continue to stand firm to defend democracy,” he said.

Jang stressed that the defection of elected officials does not invalidate the party’s mandate.

“He remains a governor elected by PDP. It was the PDP that brought him to power,” he said.

He further criticised attempts by the electoral commission and judiciary to interfere in party affairs, saying such actions could weaken democratic practice.

“INEC must not kill democracy,” he warned, noting that the Supreme Court has consistently ruled against judicial intervention in party leadership matters.

Also speaking at the occasion, a PDP chieftain, Bagudu Hirse, said the party’s internal crisis is driven by the selfish interests of a few individuals rather than structural weakness.

“Every political party goes through internal challenges,” Hirse said. “What we are witnessing in the PDP today is not unique. Other parties are yet to face theirs. Plateau is a PDP state. Unity is our only path to recovery.”

During the first phase of the engagement, local government party chairmen reaffirmed their loyalty to the PDP and pledged to intensify grassroots mobilisation.

They expressed confidence that the party remains deeply rooted in Plateau State despite defections.

Meanwhile, Plateau PDP chairman, Raymond Dabo, described the engagement as timely and strategic, thanking party elders for their guidance and continued loyalty.

He acknowledged internal challenges, including weak cohesion, poor communication between leadership and grassroots members, and limited inclusion of women, youths and persons living with disabilities in decision-making.

The party, in a communiqué issued at the end of the engagement, resolved to sustain a high-level reconciliation drive to address internal grievances and strengthen unity among members.

The communiqué, which was signed by the state publicity secretary, Felix Choji, also resolved to improve internal communication, enhance leadership accountability through regular reporting, and adopt affirmative measures to ensure active participation of women, youths and other marginalised groups in party structures.

The PDP also expressed confidence that its current challenges are temporary and reaffirmed its commitment to defending democratic values and multiparty politics in Plateau State and Nigeria.