Leadership Dispute: Plateau ADP Kicks Against Imposition, Reaffirms Support for Miri-Led Exco

The Plateau State chapter of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has said it will resist any attempt to impose leaders who do not duly emerge through the constitutional processes of the party.

This came as members passed a vote of confidence in the Nansoh Silas Miri-led executive committee while dismissing actions taken by the self-acclaimed former leader of the party, Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah.

In a statement jointly signed by the Acting Chairman of ADP in Plateau State, Mr. Nansoh Silas Miri, and the Acting Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yemeh John, at the weekend following a press conference held at the ADP Northern Zonal Office in Jos, members reaffirmed their loyalty to the party and urged the National Headquarters to act justly and in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
“The Truth About the Leadership of ADP in Plateau State”

The Action Democratic Party (ADP), Plateau State chapter, finds it necessary to address party members, the media, security agencies, stakeholders, and the general public regarding recent developments surrounding the activities of Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah, who continues to parade himself as the Chairman of the party in Plateau State despite decisions taken by the party’s organs within the state.

The party hereby advises the public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging in any official transaction, negotiation, agreement, or political activity purportedly carried out on behalf of the Plateau State chapter of ADP by Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah. According to the position of the party in Plateau State, Mr. Boyi ceased to function as Acting Chairman following resolutions reached at a congress meeting held on January 23, 2026, after concerns and allegations against his leadership were considered by party stakeholders.

For the avoidance of doubt, all relevant records, minutes, reports, petitions, and documents relating to the decisions taken by the party regarding the leadership question are available and can be presented to any interested authority or stakeholder seeking clarification on the matter.

The Plateau State chapter of ADP, under the leadership of Mr. Nansoh Silas Miri as Acting Chairman, remains committed to the unity, growth, stability, and progress of the party. We remain loyal to the national leadership of the party and dedicated to ensuring the smooth administration of party affairs pending the conduct of congresses that will produce a substantive leadership in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Unfortunately, rather than respecting the wishes expressed by party members and stakeholders across the state, Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah has continued to engage in activities which, in our view, have deepened divisions within the party and created unnecessary confusion among members and the public. It is for this reason that we have deemed it necessary to place the facts before the public and counter what we consider to be misinformation being circulated by him and his supporters.

The congress meeting of January 23, 2026, convened in Jos, was attended by party stakeholders from across the state, including the three zonal chairmen, 17 local government chairmen and their executives, members of the State Working Committee, national and North-Central leaders from Plateau State, party elders, stakeholders, and members.

At that meeting, issues concerning the leadership of the party in the state were extensively discussed. The gathering considered several petitions and complaints that had been submitted against Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah and his deputy, Comrade Peter Falah Takah.

To ensure fairness and due process, a seven-member disciplinary committee headed by Mr. Danjuma Auta was constituted to investigate the allegations and make recommendations.

Upon completion of its assignment, the committee submitted its report to the State Working Committee led by Mr. Nansoh Silas Miri. The report, together with the minutes and resolutions of the January 23 meeting, was subsequently forwarded to the National Headquarters for necessary action.

More than four months after these submissions, no formal response has been communicated to the state chapter regarding either the disciplinary report or the resolutions reached at the meeting.

Questions for the National Leadership
We have consistently been informed that the National Leadership considers the January 23 congress meeting illegal. However, despite repeated requests, no convincing explanation has been provided to justify that position.

The meeting was convened in the same manner and through the same processes as several previous meetings whose outcomes were never challenged. We therefore continue to ask: What specifically made the January 23 meeting illegal?

We recall that at the initial stages of this dispute, representatives of the National Leadership appealed for patience and understanding, indicating that they would eventually respect the collective decision of members in Plateau State. We were made to understand that certain strategic considerations involving the party’s legal and political interests informed their request for restraint.

However, we maintain that the issues concerning Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah did not arise overnight. Petitions against his leadership dated back to 2024, with additional complaints submitted thereafter, culminating in the January 23 decision by party stakeholders.

Furthermore, questions have also been raised regarding the prolonged tenure of an acting chairman beyond the period contemplated by the party’s constitution, yet these concerns received little or no attention from the National Leadership.

Our Commitment to Truth and Party Democracy
Following the events of January 23, various efforts were allegedly made to compel members of the State Working Committee and other stakeholders to accept a narrative that contradicted the decisions reached by party members in the state.

We resisted those pressures because we believe that leadership in a democratic party must derive its legitimacy from the consent and confidence of its members.

Despite intimidation, threats, and attempts to silence dissenting voices, we remained steadfast in our commitment to truth, justice, and internal democracy. We have refused to compromise the trust reposed in us by members of the party across Plateau State.

Concerns Over Reported Congress/Ratification Plans
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Sani Dawop, who was among those delegated by the National Headquarters to mediate in the Plateau crisis, assured stakeholders that congresses would be conducted after the National Convention to usher in substantive leadership in the state.

Consequently, we were surprised to hear reports of plans to conduct a so-called congress or ratification exercise aimed at imposing leaders at various levels without broad consultation and without any official communication to relevant stakeholders.

While we cannot independently verify all such reports, we consider any attempt to impose leadership structures against the wishes of party members to be unacceptable and contrary to the democratic ideals upon which the ADP was founded.

We sincerely hope that the National Leadership is not associated with any such move. If it is, serious questions would arise regarding the commitment of the party’s leadership to fairness, transparency, and internal democracy.

The Current Leadership Position
We wish to reiterate that Mr. Nansoh Silas Miri was appointed Acting Chairman of the Action Democratic Party in Plateau State on January 23, 2026, following decisions reached at the stakeholders’ meeting held at TEEST Hotel, Jos.

Following those resolutions, Mr. Bitrus Boyi Ngah formally handed over responsibilities to Mr. Nansoh Silas Miri on January 24, 2026, in his capacity as the most senior officer of the State Working Committee.

The Plateau State chapter remains united behind the leadership of Mr. Nansoh Silas Miri and committed to preserving peace, stability, and progress within the party pending the conduct of congresses and the emergence of substantive leadership.

In conclusion, today we stand before the people of Plateau State and the Nigerian public not out of bitterness, but out of a commitment to truth, justice,
accountability, and democratic principles.
We remain committed members of the Action Democratic Party. We remain loyal to the party and its ideals. We remain committed to dialogue, reconciliation, and the peaceful resolution of all internal disagreements.

However, we shall not remain silent when facts are distorted, when members are misled, or when the collective will of party stakeholders is disregarded.
History will always vindicate those who stand on the side of truth.
The statement concluded.