Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has made a huge catch from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to have one of the sons of a one time prominent politician and former Deputy Senate President, Late Senator Ibrahim Narisu Mantu, Barrister Umar Mantu, defecting to APC with over 20,000 PDP members.
This came in a press statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Sylvanus Namang, and made available to THE NIGERIA STANDARD recently in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
According to the statement, the official declaration took place in his Chanso Ward of Mangu Local Government Area of the state amidst pomp, pageantry and funfair.
It was accompanied by mummurings that Barrister Umar Mantu was a two time contestant in 2019 and 2022 in PDP primaries for the Mangu/Bokkos Constituency of the Federal House of Representatives.
Speaking at the declaration in Chanso Ward APC Party office, the young and charismatic Umar Mantu, who is still in his 30s, said, his defection to the APC was necessitated by the need to be in the right place to contribute his quota to the growth of democracy.
He said his coming into the APC would add value to the party as he would actively play his role to ensure victory for the party from top to bottom in the 2023 general elections.
Receiving the decampees, the APC Chairman in Chanso Ward, Mal. Sadak Zakari, expressed great delight over the development and that it would greatly enhance the fortunes of the APC in Chaso Ward, Pyem Chiefdom, Mangu Local Government Area and the state, given the statue and pedigree of Barrister Mantu.
On his part, the Commissioner of Environment and illustrious son of Chaso Ward, Hon. Elisha Bitrus Shehu, commended Barrister Mantu for taking the wise decision of dumping the PDP for the APC.
In his words, “Umar Mantu is like his Late father, a calculative politician who will bring his wealth of experience as a team player to bear in APC. Your joining the APC is long overdue because this is where you rightly belong.
“Given his antecedents in PDP, you joining the APC is a sure victory for the APC at all levels because you would bring your political wizardry, experience and passion into the All Progressive Congress in Chanso, Mangu LGA, Plateau State and Nigeria at large”, he stated.
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the Director General of APC Gubernatorial Campaign Council (Operations) Rt. Hon. Sale Shehu Yipmong, said it was a sign of victory for the APC at all levels.
The Plateau State Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, represented by the Commissioner of Environment, Hon. Elisha Bitrus Shehu, described Umar’s entrance to the APC as an added value to the party.
Wife of the APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr Mrs Martina Yilwatda and his coming was a very big catch for the APC.
During the voice voting, all the ward EXCO of Chanso unanimously voted to accept him as their member and he was issued a membership card of the APC. It was an elaborate reception at the Chanso primary school as speakers took turns to eulogise Barrister Umar whose coming into the APC they all agreed to it.
The occasion witnessed the presence of the Plateau State House of Assembly’s Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Yanga (aka A One), Executive Chairman of Mangu LGA, Hon Minister Daniel Daput, Hon. Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hon. Daniel Dalyop (Daff D), Hon. Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Rebecca Sambo, APC senatorial candidate for Plateau Central Senatorial District, Hon. Diket Plang and APC Chairman Mangu LGA, Hon. Ladan Garkuwa respectively.
Other prominent guests who came with the celebrant included a strong APC member from Abia State, Chief Rex Okuta and Mal. Lamir Umar Ibrahim, Special Assistant on Executive Relations to the Honourable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives who sang praises of Barrister (Dr ) Umar Ibrahim Mantu.
