Former Plateau State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Jonah David Jang, has cautioned against Nigeria sliding into a one-party system, warning that such a development would seriously undermine the nation’s democracy.
Jang issued the warning while addressing PDP stakeholders in Plateau State, following the recent defection of Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“God forbid Nigeria becomes a one-party state. By God’s grace, it will never happen. We must rise to protect this democracy and not fail the nation,” he said.
He emphasized the need to safeguard and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system, arguing that rampant defections by elected officials threaten democratic stability. According to Jang, the political system wrongly enables such defections, which he described as damaging to democratic growth.
The former governor stressed that electoral mandates belong to political parties, not individuals.
“I have never seen an individual’s name on a ballot paper; it is always the party. It is the party that wins elections, not individuals,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s practice of politicians defecting with mandates is uncommon in true democracies.
Jang also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of meddling in the internal affairs of the PDP, insisting the electoral body lacks the constitutional authority to do so.
“The PDP has not been deregistered, so INEC has no right to bar any PDP candidate from contesting elections. Their duty is to conduct elections, not interfere in party affairs,” he said, while also urging courts to stay out of internal party matters.
Commenting on Governor Mutfwang’s defection, Jang maintained that the governor should resign and seek a fresh mandate under his new party.
“The right thing is to resign, call for a fresh election, and then contest on the platform of the new party,” he said.
He insisted that Mutfwang emerged through the PDP and could not transfer the party’s mandate elsewhere.
“We campaigned and voted for him. He is a product of the PDP and cannot take our mandate anywhere,” Jang stated.
Jang concluded by calling on PDP members to remain united and determined, assuring them that the party’s national leadership would mobilize to confront what he described as increasing threats to Nigeria’s democracy.