By Jordan Walbe.
The political atmosphere in Plateau State took a dramatic twist as former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Plateau State chapter, *Chief Letep Dabang*, has declared his total support for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, *Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik*, popularly called *Kefiano*.
Chief Dabang, who is widely known in political circles as *“The Masquerade,”* claimed to have resigned from his position as *Adviser to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda*, while maintaining his membership of the APC.
But investigation available to this medium has revealed that the resignation claim is shrouded in controversy, deceit and political calculation to mislead the public.
*No Evidence of Resignation Letter*
According to findings, Chief Letep Dabang announced his resignation on social media without any evidence of a resignation letter or an acknowledgement from the APC National Chairman. Political observers say it is impossible for Dabang to resign as an aide to the National Chairman and still maintain party membership while openly working against the APC governorship candidate in Plateau State, *His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang*.
> _“This is total deceit and a calculated way to mislead the public. If the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, is truly aware of this, then he needs to suspend Chief Letep immediately,”_ a party chieftain told our correspondent.
It would be recalled that in 2023, when Chief Letep Dabang was against the candidacy of Nentawe as the flag bearer of the APC, he left the APC without wasting time and joined the PDP, because he knew he could not openly support Mutfwang while in APC as that would amount to anti-party and attract suspension.
> _“Latep was in PDP and later switched back to APC and started working against Mutfwang. The reason for leaving PDP then was because you cannot be in a party and engage in anti-party activities. Now that Mutfwang is in the APC, he is openly supporting the opposition party candidate of PDP, Chief Kefas Ropshik Kefiano, and the APC in the state and at the national level are not saying anything. Is there any alliance against Governor Mutfwang that we are not aware of?”_ another stakeholder queried.
*Is Rainbow Coalition Working Against Mutfwang?*
The development has raised questions over whether the *Rainbow Coalition* is now working in Plateau State against Governor Mutfwang.
It would be recalled that the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, had instructed all his aides, liaison officers and APC party members to work *5-over-5 for all APC candidates* in the forthcoming 2027 general election, declaring that there is *“no vacancy in Government House, Little Rayfield.”*
> _“If what the APC National Chairman said is to be matched by action, then Latep should be expelled from APC,”_ a party analyst said.
*“Supporting Mutfwang Is A Disservice” — Letep*
Chief Letep Dabang was seen in a social media post saying supporting Mutfwang is a disservice to Plateau State which he will not embark on. He is also quoted as saying he is voting and working for Mr. President, *Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR*, but cannot work for Mutfwang as a party member.
Political analysts argue that if the statement is true, then Latep Dabang has no business remaining in the APC.
> _“He can be in the PDP and still support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What he is doing now is clear anti-party,”_ an analyst said.
*Danger For APC, Tinubu’s Votes*
Analysts have cautioned that the anti-party activities of Chief Letep Dabang will destroy the APC on the Plateau and might affect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s votes in 2027.
> _“If all APC members will do what Latep Dabang is doing, what will be left of APC in Plateau State? The danger of what Latep is doing is destroying the APC rather than campaigning for Mr. President and other APC candidates. He is giving the opposition party an edge over the ruling APC,”_ a political analyst warned.
The anti-party activities of Latep Dabang, according to observers, also justify the recent visit of the *City Boy Movement*, the largest APC support group, to Chief Kefas Ropshik Kefiano — a visit which has sparked many reactions, as the group met with the major opposition to the APC governorship candidate, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC leadership at both state and national levels is yet to issue an official statement on the matter, while Chief Letep Dabang is yet to present his resignation letter and acknowledgement from the National Chairman.
Stakeholders say this is the right time for the APC, both in the state and at the national level, to take decisive action to save the party from internal sabotage ahead of 2027.
