Just when the Plateau State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Rufus Bature claimed Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State was wasting his time as Governor, a ranking member of the APC, Mr Dayyabu Garga has openly countered the claim.

In what is seen as a fitting comeuppance to the APC Chairman, Mr. Dayyabu Garga who served as a commissioner in the APC government for two terms between 2015 and 2023 compounded the woes of the APC on the Plateau by resigning his membership of the Party.

Sources say he is on his way to Governor Muftwang’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Bature had hinted that citizens were “disappointed with the performance of the Mutfwang government in Plateau State.”

But Garga, a strong ally of former Governor Simon Lalong and a former Commissioner in his administration resigned his membership of the APC on Sunday to join the Mutfwang’s PDP.

Recall that his stout support to the former governor earned him the slots to serve in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, and later the Chairman of Kanam Local Government Area.

In a surprising turn of events, Garga in a letter of resignation addressed to the APC Chairman of Garga Ward in the Kanam LGA and copied to the APC Chairmen in Kanam and the State, noted his decision was not impromptu but well-thought-out.

A protege of Garga had escalated the decision on several social media platforms, confirmed Garga is moving to the PDP, and called the move, the unfolding of a new chapter for his boss.

He said, “In a significant political move that is set to reverberate throughout the Kanam Local Government Council, Hon. Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, has submitted his resignation letter from the APC to the Party Chairman of Garga Ward.

“This bold move marks the beginning of a new chapter in Garga’s political journey as he registers with the PDP, receiving his membership card at the Ward level.

“During the submission of his resignation letter, Garga expressed his gratitude to the APC at the State and Ward levels for the opportunities he had been given in the past. However, he cited his dissatisfaction with the Party leadership at the Local Government level, describing it as a “one-man gang” that disregarded the contributions of others.

“This has created an environment that stifles growth and progress, prompting him to seek a new political home where his values and vision for Kanam would be embraced.”

He added, “Garga’s decision to leave the APC was not taken lightly. The PDP, with its inclusive and people-centred approach, presents a refreshing alternative for Garga. He was welcomed with open arms by his new Party members, who shared his vision for a better Kanam.

“His decision has paved the way for many more defections from the APC to the PDP at the Local Government level, a move that would further strengthen the PDP’s presence in the region.”

While the State APC is yet to react to Garga’s decision, a strong member of the Party in the State who didn’t want to be named said the decision demonstrates boldness which should be emulated.

According to the member, “We have lost a big fish. Garga has demonstrated boldness by leaving, many are grumbling in silence. His leaving has no doubt created a vacuum but I see more of the defection in the coming days if the Party fails to do the right things.”

It would be recalled that the morale of the party on the Plateau was temporarily lifted by the controversial election tribunal judgments which stripped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of many of the seats the party won in the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly.

However, the party has failed to sustain that momentum.

Lalong who was defeated by more than 50,000 votes in the Plateau South Senatorial District election was forced to resign his seat as a minister to take up the Senate seat after the Court of Appeal removed Senator Napoleon Bali based on the controversial issue of PDP structure.

Sources disclosed that Lalong took the decision to vacate his ministerial seat in order not to trigger an election for the seat that the APC could have also lost and exacerbated the meltdown of the party on the Plateau.

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