The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has laid down guidelines for the commencement of political activities leading to the 2015 elections. Plateau state, just like the remaining thirty five states of the federation will be heading to the polls in eight months’ time to elect a Governor who will take over from the incumbent, Da Jonah Jang. The ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has produced the Governors of the state since the return of democracy in 1999.

The incumbent Governor, Da Jonah Jang who is about finishing his second term hails from Plateau North senatorial zone while his predecessor Chief Joshua Dariye who is currently a serving senator hails from Plateau central. Late Chief Solomon Lar and Chief Fidelis Tapgun from the Southern senatorial zone were Governors of old Plateau from 1979 to 1983 and 1992 to 1993 respectively.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has laid down guidelines for the commencement of political activities leading to the 2015 elections. Plateau state, just like the remaining thirty five states of the federation will be heading to the polls in eight months’ time to elect a Governor who will take over from the incumbent, Da Jonah Jang. The ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has produced the Governors of the state since the return of democracy in 1999.

The incumbent Governor, Da Jonah Jang who is about finishing his second term hails from Plateau North senatorial zone while his predecessor Chief Joshua Dariye who is currently a serving senator hails from Plateau central. Late Chief Solomon Lar and Chief Fidelis Tapgun from the Southern senatorial zone were Governors of old Plateau from 1979 to 1983 and 1992 to 1993 respectively.

Various groups have been agitating for one of their own to occupy the Rayfield Government house in 2015, based on factors they believe favours their respective zones. People from the Southern zone of the state are insisting that it is their turn to produce the next governor since the Northern and central zone have had all occupied Government house. The Northern and Central zones in reply have stated emphatically that the Southern zone produced two governors in the persons of Late Chief Solomon Lar and Chief Fidelis Tapgun.

The Southern zone argued that the former governors from the zone were elected prior to the present political dispensation and that it was under the old Plateau, made up of present Nasarawa state. The Southern zone also argued that Late Chief Solomon Lar governed for only four years as the military coup of 1983 truncated democracy barely three months into his second term. They also maintained that Chief Fidelis Tapgun who was elected governor from the zone in the aborted third republic became governor from January 1992 to November 1993 before the military took over. The zone feels it has never completed eight years just as the other zones.

The Central zone contends that the Government of Chief Joshua Dariye suffered setbacks as there was a state of emergency declared by President Olusegun Obasanjo for six months and an illegal impeachment afterwards which saw the Governor out of office for about a year. They maintain that they are illegible just like the southern zone while adding that Dariye’s deputy Late Chief Michael Botmang from the northern zone held sway for six months when the former was illegally impeached.

Proponents and antagonists of the zoning have given diverse opinions on the reasons for and against zoning in the state. Although the ruling party does not have a written zoning agreement, some believe that since zoning has benefited the zones then it should be allowed to thrive. Those with that school of thought believe that the Southern zone should take over from the North before handing over to the Central and Northern zones. Others believe that any zone can start afresh since all zones have benefited from the arrangement.

The Plateau North Political Front (PNPF) released a press statement stating that a credible candidate from any part of the state should be allowed to contest freely for the governorship. The group stated that zoning has never been effective as candidates from other zones have always contested for the governorship at all elections in the state. The Plateau South Democracy Watch (PSDW) and the Coalition of Concerned Plateau Northern Youth (CCPNY) issued counter statements in respect of zoning and return of the Governorship to the Southern zone of the state. The two groups maintained that for equity sake the southern zone should be allowed to take over the mantle of leadership.

As it stands, there is rife uncertainty in the polity. Plateau citizens are unsure about who may become Governor after the incumbent. The proponents and opponents of zoning have further beclouded the already tense political atmosphere with posters, billboards and commercials, and none of these (proponents and opponents) appears to be backing down or ready to make a truce.

The situation is no doubt very complicated but Plateau electorate have made it clear that they would only want to see the best candidate emerge, someone who is able to improve their standard of living. On this note, I shall leave you with a ViewPointNigeria opinion poll (undertaken in the first quarter of 2014), about who should be the next governor of Plateau, see link below:

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/818-who-we-want-as-the-next-governor-of-plateau-viewpointnigeria-opinion-poll

ViewPointNigeria ©

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Plateau Gubernatorial Elections 2015: Zoning or not?