APC Welcomes Defectors as Akpabio Declares Opposition Parties Weakened in Plateau
The mass defection of key figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State has prompted Senate President Godswill Akpabio to declare both opposition parties politically diminished in the state.
Speaking at a rally in Jos over the weekend to receive the new entrants, Akpabio said the development had strengthened the APC’s prospects ahead of future elections. He noted that the party was now better positioned to reclaim the governorship and retain its federal and state legislative seats.
Akpabio assured the defectors that they would enjoy full rights within the party, describing APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, as a valuable force in consolidating its structure.
“With the calibre of people that defected to our party today, I am proud to announce that we now have the manpower, the energy, and the structure to win across the Central, Southern and Northern zones—and win convincingly,” he said.
Addressing supporters, Yilwatda said the APC had become more united and was poised for a strong showing in the next election cycle. He added that the party had absorbed members from other platforms, including individuals who worked against it in previous elections, and noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was rallying more support nationwide.
Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, said Plateau remained a strong APC base despite not currently holding the governorship. He argued that recent defections—even from within the serving administration—demonstrated the party’s appeal.
Former Plateau State governor and APC leader in the state, Senator Simon Bako Lalong, described the rally as a significant moment for the party. He said the defection wave showed that attempts to undermine the APC had failed, despite what he described as efforts by the current PDP-led government to reverse gains made under previous administrations.
State party chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, welcomed the defectors and promised them fair treatment and full participation in party affairs.
Speaking for the group, a former Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang and one-time APC state chairman said they left the PDP due to what they considered unmet promises, internal repression and a perceived lack of performance.
