The acting North Central zonal chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Francis Enokela Orogu, has urged residents of the state to back efforts aimed at electing a native governor, stressing that development will be better achieved when the choice is not influenced by religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
Orogu also stated that Nasarawa State remains a PDP stronghold, insisting that with the party’s full structure in place, it would win both local government and governorship elections if they are conducted freely and fairly.
He made the remarks on Friday at the PDP secretariat in Lafia after a closed-door meeting with members of the state executive committee.
Orogu, who argued that Nasarawa has experienced significant developmental decline, attributed the setback to past and current governors allegedly diverting the state’s resources to develop their home states.
He expressed frustration that states created at the same time as Nasarawa have advanced in many sectors because they are led by indigenous governors, unlike Nasarawa.
According to him, the next governor must come from within the state, regardless of religion or party. He criticised past leaders for allegedly prioritising other regions over the state they governed.
He said: “Enough is enough. We want a native of Nasarawa to become governor, whether Muslim or Christian. We cannot continue having leaders who owe allegiance to people outside the state.”
Discussing the PDP’s current status, Orogu insisted that the party still dominates Nasarawa, explaining that all 13 local government chairmen and ward executives remain intact.
He added: “Anybody who left PDP for another party in Nasarawa is either a sell out or APC spies who found it hard to remain in PDP to feed APC with take information.”
On his role as acting zonal chairman for the North Central, Orogu explained that his key mandate is to stabilise the party and strengthen its state chapters. He pledged loyalty to the leadership elected at the last national convention and dismissed claims put forward by what he described as “four individuals parading themselves as party leaders.”
He said the zonal leadership will collaborate with stakeholders across the North Central to rebuild trust and reposition the PDP ahead of upcoming elections.
He stated: “Once we stabilize, the next election cycle in the North Central will be far better than previous ones. Those governors who left in the name of division will be replaced by the people if they fail to return when the window opens.”
Orogu reiterated that the PDP remains firmly rooted in the North Central and in Nasarawa, adding that no manufactured crisis can diminish the party’s grassroots influence.
