Two-term Commissioner and former Chairman of Kanam Local Government Area in Plateau State, Hon. Dayyabu Garga, has cited the absence of state government presence in his community and growing frustrations with local politics as reasons for his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Hon. Garga, who served in the APC-led administration under former Governor Simon Lalong for eight years, expressed disappointment with the lack of development in his constituency. He shared how the people of his community, despite supporting the APC and his various appointments, saw no tangible progress.
“When I was appointed commissioner, my people were excited, expecting my position to bring development projects. Unfortunately, nothing materialized. Even as the local government chairman, there was no government presence. If you visit my area, you would sympathize with us for the lack of progress,” Garga explained.
He went on to reveal that internal conflicts within the APC, especially at the local level, also contributed to his decision. He criticized individuals who dominated the local APC, accusing them of sidelining anyone who did not conform to their expectations.
“As the chairman of my local government, I should have been the leader of the party in the council. But I was repeatedly sidelined. Meetings were held without inviting me, and I would only hear about them afterward,” Garga said.
Since joining the APC in 2015, Garga said he had been treated like a “second-class citizen” by certain party members who believed they could dictate terms to others. A notable incident that aggravated tensions was when the local APC chairman passed away, and Garga was not consulted about the selection of his replacement, despite the chairman being from his ward.
After discussions with his supporters and other APC members in the area, Garga, along with many others, decided to leave the party.
While local politics played a major role in his defection, Garga also criticized the state’s party leadership, accusing them of being inactive. He questioned the ongoing situation where six Plateau State assembly members had not yet been inaugurated, despite being elected.
“Why are six of our assembly members still not inaugurated, yet they continue to roam the streets? It reflects a failure in leadership,” Garga concluded.
