By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – Plateau State, also known as the Home of Peace and Tourism has had nothing close to tranquility in more than a decade now.

It is not only the problems of ethno-religious conflicts, civil unrest and bomb-blasts that plague the State, politically too, the State has also known little peace.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which has ruled the state since 1999 has indeed not been immune to crisis leading to factions such as PDP 1 and PDP 2 or periodic exodus of party members to fringe parties.

As the 2015 general elections approach the schisms that had in the past rocked the PDP is again manifesting. Meanwhile, the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC is silently watching as the drama unfold in the PDP anxiously waiting if it could benefit from the crisis in the PDP.

The current crisis in the PDP started sometime in May, 2014 when the incumbent party Chairman, Dr. Haruna Dabin openly declared his intention to run for the 2015 gubernatorial seat.

This decision did not go down well with the State governor, Jonah Jang and his supporters who want the governor’s successor to come from the northern zone of the state where incidentally, the governor also comes from.

Gov Jonah Jang of Plateau State

To curb Dabin’s excesses, the party’s State Executive Committee, SEC convened an extra-ordinary meeting where sundry allegations were leveled against Dabin and a suspension was slammed on him in his absence.

Dr. Dabin’s deputy, Chief Raymond Dabo was appointed as Acting Chairman of the Party and Dabin asked to within two weeks appear before a disciplinary committee which was set up but he failed to do according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting held at the Presidential Lodge, Rayfield.

It was also resolved that the committee report be forwarded to the National Secretariat for necessary action.

Two days after the meeting, the National Working Committee, NWC allegedly wrote a letter stating it will not accept the suspension order issued on Dr. Dabin by the State Executive Council, SEC of the Party.?

In the letter addressed to Dabin and signed by the National Secretary of the Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, the NWC urged those who issued the suspension order to act within the provisions of the party’s constitution.?

The letter which faulted the suspension of Dr. Dabin as chairman reads in parts: “The National Working Committee NWC of our great Party has received news of some controversy on the legality or otherwise of certain actions by some members of the Plateau State Executive Council of our Party.

”For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC wishes to refer all concerned to the provision of our constitution especially Article 57(7).? The National Working Committee hereby

directs your good self as the State Chairman to ensure that the Plateau State PDP remains respectful of the provisions of our constitution in this regard.”?

?The one page, five paragraph letter further stated, “Finally, the NWC wishes to emphasize that it is an offence under Article 58 (i) for any member to engage in unauthorized publicity of disputes within the Party.”

While the authenticity of the letter was still being discussed in many quarters, another letter purportedly written and signed by Dr. Dabin as his resignation letter surfaced in Jos.

The latest letter with subject, “Letter of resignation from my position as Plateau State Chairman” dated July, 10, 2014 and addressed to the national chairman of the party quoted Dabin as stating that he resigned to enable him contest the 2015 governorship election.

It read in part, “I am deeply indebted to God Almighty for the opportunity to be a member of our great party and to currently serve as the Plateau State Chairman.

”Given the need for greater harmony in the party in the state and my desire to contest for the position of governor of Plateau State in the forthcoming elections, I hereby give notice of my resignation in line with Section 47(5) of the party’s constitution with effect from Monday, 14th July, 2014.”

Reacting to the letter, Dr. Dabin said “Can you imagine that? If I am to resign, will I address the letter to the National Chairman of the Party in Abuja? Whoever is behind this is just bent on throwing the party into chaos.”

As the letters emerged, the state party secretariat was sealed for the second time within a month last Monday even though the Police through its Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abuh Emmanuel denied knowledge.

Many party stalwarts declined answering any question on the letters.

Several calls put to the phone number of the state party secretary, Prince Pam Saleh were not picked and the call was not returned at the time of this report.

With the unfolding drama, one prays the ruling Party will put its act together and work towards being successful in 2015 elections before the opposition has the last laugh.