The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, on Saturday received hundreds of defectors from several political parties into the APC in Plateau State. The event, held at the Jos Polo Field, attracted a massive crowd of party supporters.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, the new entrants came from five political parties: the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, PRP, African Democratic Congress, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Among the prominent defectors were Senator Istifanus Gyang, who represented Plateau North in the Ninth Assembly; former PDP campaign Director-General for the 2023 elections, Latep Dabang; Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Dr. Patrick Dakum; and former NNPP governorship hopeful, Alfred Dabwam.
Others who joined the APC include members of the House of Representatives: Hon. Fom Dalyop (Riyom/Barkin Ladi), Hon. Ajang Alfred Ilya (Jos South/Jos East), and Hon. Daniel Asama Ago (Bassa/Jos North), among several additional leaders.
Representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, Akpabio said the rise of Yilwatda as APC National Chairman had boosted the party’s fortunes in Plateau, as evidenced by the calibre of new members.
“My ears have heard and my eyes have seen that from today, the entire Plateau is APC. Come 2027, Plateau shall deliver the APC,” Akpabio declared.
He praised Tinubu for appointing Yilwatda, whom he described as a man of integrity, saying the chairman had already “delivered Plateau State to the APC before the elections.”
Akpabio also assured the crowd that the President was addressing longstanding security challenges in the state. He lamented the years of killings and displacements, stressing that Plateau State deserved lasting peace.
“Too many lives have been lost. Too many homes destroyed. Plateau deserves peace, and anyone who wants to govern this state must be committed to peace,” he said.
In his remarks, Yilwatda described the event as the final consolidation of the APC’s dominance in Plateau State.
“Today on the Plateau, there is only one political party. If you are not in APC, you are not in politics. With this structure and firepower, Plateau will deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. All Senate seats, and all state and federal offices, will be APC,” he said.
The new members were formally presented with party flags and the APC’s broom symbol by Yilwatda, who assured them of equal rights within the party.
The rally was attended by several top officials, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia; and Kogi State Deputy Governor, Salifu Joel.
Earlier reports from February 2025 showed that over 300 PDP members had defected to the APC and other parties within one year. Many cited unresolved internal crises at both state and national levels.
The PDP’s turmoil deepened further after the expulsion of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and 10 other senior party figures for alleged anti-party activities during its 20th National Convention in Ibadan.
Those expelled include ex-Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Abraham Amah, George Turner, and Chief Dan Orbih.
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