Prominent stakeholders, community leaders and youths in Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State have dismissed claims of an existing zoning arrangement for the Mikang State Constituency seat, declaring instead that electoral choices in the area should continue to be determined by performance and public acceptance.
The position was made known during a political gathering held on Saturday in Tunkus, where a large number of residents and supporters from across the local government expressed support for the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang was equally endorsed by participants at the rally, who urged him to seek a second term in office.
Delegations from Garkawa, Koenoem, Piapung and Tehl districts attended the event, which witnessed repeated calls for continuity in leadership at both the state and constituency levels.
Addressing the gathering, former lawmaker and current Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Dio Lamun, said political contests in Mikang had historically remained open to aspirants from different districts, contrary to recent claims suggesting the existence of zoning.
He explained that consultations among stakeholders had produced a consensus that any conversation around zoning should be postponed until after the 2027 elections.
According to Lamun, the decision was aimed at preserving unity within the local government while allowing the current Speaker complete his political mandate without unnecessary distractions.
He further described Naanlong as a ranking legislator whose experience and influence had helped attract development projects and increased political recognition to Mikang.
Former Commissioner for Education in Plateau State, Joseph Mairiga, also argued that the local government had never adopted zoning as a political tradition.
Mairiga praised the Speaker for what he described as sustained investments in education and grassroots empowerment, particularly support for students through examination sponsorships and scholarship programmes.
He said the lawmaker had continued to strengthen political participation and community development across the constituency.
In his remarks, former Chairman of Mikang Local Government, Hon. Bretet Gabriel Dauda, said the turnout recorded at the rally demonstrated the widespread support the Speaker currently enjoys among residents.
Dauda credited Naanlong with several interventions in the education sector, including the payment of WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees for students from different communities within the area.
He noted that the Speaker’s empowerment initiatives had cut across religious and ethnic divides, contributing to his popularity among the people.
Also speaking, National President of the Tehl Development Association, Longvel Linus Mentel, urged political actors to allow voters decide the future of the constituency based on leadership performance.
He maintained that democracy gives the electorate the right to retain representatives they consider effective and responsive to their needs.
A former opponent of the Speaker in previous elections, Benedict Peter, publicly declared his support for Naanlong at the event, saying the Speaker’s record in office had convinced him to join calls for continuity.
Stakeholders at the gathering highlighted several projects and interventions they attributed to the current leadership, including road construction projects linking communities within the local government, support for farmers, scholarships and youth empowerment programmes.
They stressed that maintaining political unity and continuity would help sustain ongoing development efforts in Mikang as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
