|By Adejumo Adekunle
Former member of the House of Representatives, Dachung Bagos, has blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the opposition party has failed and can no longer offer credible leadership.
Bagos made the assertion on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, shortly after formally announcing his move to the ruling APC.
He dismissed claims that the defection was driven by personal ambition, insisting it was a principled decision rooted in governance and ideology.
According to him, the PDP has lost its capacity to provide direction or serve as a viable platform for addressing the needs of the people.
Bagos, who represented Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State from 2019 until November 2023, officially joined the APC on January 4, 2026. He defected alongside several political figures loyal to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
Governor Mutfwang had earlier resigned from the PDP and crossed over to the APC, citing persistent internal crises within the opposition party and the absence of clear leadership direction.
Rejecting suggestions of political sycophancy, Bagos maintained that the decision was guided by conviction rather than convenience, stressing that the PDP’s current state left no room for redemption.
He said the APC’s agenda aligns more closely with the aspirations of the people of Plateau State, particularly in areas of governance reform and inclusion.
Bagos further argued that effective governance transcends party loyalty and should be driven by ideas that citizens can trust and relate to.
He pointed to President Bola Tinubu’s policy direction, highlighting renewed emphasis on state police, local government autonomy, and the conduct of democratic local government elections across states.
The former lawmaker also underscored the need to broaden political participation, especially for young people and citizens without elite backgrounds.
He said the goal is to create a system where opportunities are open to all, regardless of social status, and where young Nigerians who have lost faith in politics can begin to believe in the process again.
