Hon. Latep Dabang, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, has resigned as Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Dabang disclosed that he resigned from the position about three weeks ago, amid his decision to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik, popularly known as Kefiano, in the 2027 Plateau governorship election.
His resignation comes against the backdrop of questions over his support for a candidate from another party while holding an appointment under the APC National Chairman.
Speaking on the development, Dabang said allegations that he was being insubordinate to Yilwatda were based on ignorance, stressing that he had already resigned from the advisory position.
He said his resignation was necessary to enable him pursue his political conviction with a clear conscience and support what he described as the right candidate for the governorship.
Dabang, a former Director-General of the Mutfwang/Piyo Campaign Organisation in 2023, also served as Senior Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
He said he would not support Mutfwang’s re-election bid, describing his assessment of the administration as one of the reasons for his decision to back Kefiano.
“Supporting Mutfwang is total disservice to Plateau State, which I will not embark on,” Dabang said.
Despite his decision to support the PDP candidate, Dabang maintained that he remains a card-carrying member of the APC and has no intention of leaving the party.
He also said he continues to hold Yilwatda in high esteem and would work for the victory of President Bola Tinubu at the polls.
Dabang further questioned criticism of his position, citing the example of former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who remains a PDP member while serving as an adviser to President Tinubu.
The development adds another dimension to the political realignments ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Plateau State, with Dabang now separating his support for the presidential contest from his choice in the governorship race.
