LP WILL UNSEAT JANG IN 2011 POLLS, SAYS PDP EX-LEADER

AN elder and former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Emmanuel Mangni, has said that those in opposition who have moved en masse to the Labour Party (LP) would leave no stone unturned to make sure they wrest power from the incumbent Governor Jonah David Jang in the April polls.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Mangni said they have mapped out undisclosed strategies to ensure that power comes to the LP in the general elections in the state.

He denied insinuations that there was crack in their camp, saying that there could not be any rift in the group because before the governorship standard bearer was arrived at, 'all the seven governorship aspirants had written an agreement that whoever emerged at the convention as the candidate shall be supported by all. So, there is no disagreement whatsoever'.

About two-and-a-half years ago, a group emerged from within the PDP and formed a parallel secretariat because of Jang's alleged poor leadership style, which they said, was running a government of exclusion. It was at that meeting that Mangni was unanimously chosen to be the chairman of the parallel PDP in the state.

The group enjoyed and still enjoys the support of Chief Solomon Lar, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, Chief Joshua Dariye, Senator John Shagaya, Chief Michael Bot-Mang and the likes.

They canvassed for fresh congresses to be conducted in the state because, according to them, there was no congress at all and Prof. Dakum Shown was only selected as chairman of the party in the state.

When they could not succeed in their aspiration, they refused to submit themselves for any screening by the party and later dumped it for the LP.

Before this time, seven governorship aspirants had already emerged within their camp. They include Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen, Damishi Sango, Jimmy Chetto, Danladi Atu, John Alkali and Pam Dung Gyang.

At a special convention last week, the deputy governor emerged as the party's standard-bearer and all others pledged to support her aspiration.

Tallen has appointed Jimmy Cheto as her campaign director-general while Pam Dung Gyang is her running mate.