Former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has declared his intention to contest for the presidential primary on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former Secretary to Plateau State Government, Shedrach Best, made this known in an exclusive interview with Tribune.
He said the former governor has submitted his letter of intent to the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja and also made a declaration at his constituency.
According to him, the 74-year-old joined the race after wide consultation in the country especially in the Middle Belt which is his immediate constituency.
Jang is currently a serving senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly.
“Jang decided to throw his hat into the ring having examined the state of the nation especially the insecurity, energy, bad economy and lack of purposeful direction by those in leadership positions in the country. He joined the race primarily to make a difference,” he said.
Best, who said Jang has the full support of the Middle Belt for his aspiration, added that the fact that the geopolitical zone has not enjoyed representation through electoral governance further propelled the senator to indicate his interest to contest.
He also disclosed that the former governor will start campaign this week from Plateau State, from where it will be taken to other parts of the country.
A Plateau High Court sitting in Jos in May granted Jang bail in 12-count charge bordering on corruption and misappropriation brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Jang is alleged to have misappropriated over N6 billion, two months to the end of his tenure as governor of Plateau in 2015.
According to the charges, the former governor also embezzled over N4 billion from the state coffers through one Pam Yusuf, who was a cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Yusuf, who is a co-defendant in the suit against Jang, is also facing another case of allegedly enriching himself to the tune of N11 million.
