by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Action Democratic Party (ADP) has conducted its Primary elections through affirmations, and was said to be “successfully.”
Chairman of the party, Hon. Bitrus Boyi Ngah, who was affirmed as the flag-bearer for Plateau North Senatorial Zone among the Aspirants, said his role as a legislative – with responsibility of handling security – directly lies with the executive arm of government.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the election on Thursday at Dadin-Kowa Youth Center Jos, Hon. Bitrus Ngah stressed that, “However, as legislators, we will ensure that laws are enacted to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
“We will lobby for adequate funding, improve intelligence gathering, encourage inter-community and regional collaboration, and ensure that the right personnel are deployed to address the security challenges facing Plateau North,” he disclosed.
“We are deeply saddened by the persistent attacks and insecurity in our communities. By the grace of God, if elected, I will work with my colleagues across the country to enact laws that will bring lasting peace, not only to my constituency but to Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Hon. Bitrus Ngah buttressed that, “The insecurity we are witnessing today has taken many dangerous dimensions that should not be allowed to continue. Sadly, the current government is not doing enough, not because Nigeria lacks the capacity to end insecurity, but because everything, including human lives, has been politicised.
“As vibrant young leaders, we will not fold our arms and watch this continue. We will do everything within our powers to ensure that insecurity is tackled decisively when elected.”
He explained that, “Victory is not just the name of a political party, but the desire of the people for change. When people are tired of a system, they come together to elect credible individuals.”
Hon. Ngah further noted that “Political parties are only vehicles that convey individuals into positions of leadership, but the people themselves matter most. In the ADP, we have individuals with clear ideas and a strong manifesto, and we are prepared to win these elections.
“We will tell the people exactly what we have in store for them. ADP has existed since 2017, and we have participated in every election. We have won some and lost some. At one point, we even produced a senator before (what he termed as) ‘political circumstances’ changed things,” he said.
According to him, “Today, we are more prepared for 2027 than ever before. ADP has what it takes to win. Elections are not all about money; they are about conviction and the ability to connect with the people. The people have heard our message and, by God’s grace, we will win the elections,” he said.
Also speaking, Woman Leader of ADP, Mrs Ifeoma Pearl, wished success for candidates who have emerged and have been officially announced at the Primaries, and congratulated them.
She urged them all to do the right thing and remain steadfast in their various wards but, also to know how to relate with their people, saying, “And when the time for elections and campaigns come, we will all stand solidly behind you.”
With a proverbial note, she noted: “They say that ‘whatever is established on earth is also established in heaven.’ What we have done here, today, I believe God Almighty has already established in heaven, and at the end of this race, victory shall be ours.”
In the same vein, one of the Aspirants, Dr Azi Musa Goje (for House of Assembly Jos East), appreciated them for “reaching this stage,” adding, “It wasn’t easy when we started, but today, we are happy to have emerged as candidates of the party.”
According to him, “By the grace of God, come 2027, we shall emerge victorious,” and urged members of the party to remain resolute and focused, saying, “This is a time for change.”
He said Nigerians are tired of what the ruling party, particularly the APC, is doing, lamenting that, “We need change, and that change is going to come through the ADP.”