JOS -A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has alleged that the renewed killings in Plateau State are politically motivated to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and discredit Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Zazzaga, who is Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, made the claim in a statement on Monday following the Palm Sunday attack in Gariya Waye, Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area, where over 20 persons were reportedly killed and several other attacks in rural communities of the state .

He described the violence as a deliberate attempt by opposition politicians opposed to Governor Mutfwang’s defection to the APC.

“The ongoing attacks and killings in Plateau State are politically motivated.

Those behind these killings are opposition politicians who want to derail Mr President’s re-election in the 2027 elections.

These are also people who want to discredit Governor Caleb Mutfwang, knowing fully well that they can’t stop his re-election,” Zazzaga said.

He argued that with Mutfwang now in the APC, President Tinubu stands a strong chance of securing nearly 100 percent of the votes from Plateau State, prompting the sponsors of violence to target native populations in a bid to reduce voter strength.

Zazzaga linked the upsurge in attacks in Plateau to similar violence in Benue State, describing it as part of a grand plot to weaken Tinubu’s support base in the North-Central region.

“The North-Central had pledged six million votes for Tinubu in 2027. The ongoing killings in Plateau and Benue states are aimed at reducing Tinubu’s votes in the forthcoming election,” he added.

The APC leader noted that the North-Central zone, now with six APC governors following Mutfwang’s defection, remains President Tinubu’s strongest political stronghold, making it a prime target for the opposition.

He praised Tinubu for promptly visiting Jos to commiserate with victims of the Palm Sunday killings, saying the gesture demonstrated empathy and concern for the plight of citizens.

“Suspending other crucial matters of state to visit Jos to show solidarity with the victims shows Mr President cares about Nigerians. He feels the pain of the people,” Zazzaga stated.

He also commended the President for directing security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and urged Nigerians to support efforts to tackle insecurity.

Zazzaga warned religious leaders against making utterances that could incite violence, calling on security agencies to monitor clerics whose preachings promote unrest.

“Some religious leaders are making unguarded utterances which contribute to the insecurity. I am advising them to stop before it is too late.

Any right thinking religious leader should watch what he says to his congregation so as not to encourage violence,” he stressed.

He urged security agencies to adopt proactive measures that take into account the alleged political undertones behind the recurring attacks in Plateau, Benue and other parts of the country.