The defection of Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang into the All Progressives Congress (APC) is another evidence that the ruling party is a truly national party, Vice President Kashim Shettima declared yesterday.

Shettima, spoke during the reception organised at the Jos Pollo Ground to formally receive the Plateau governor into the ruling party.

Also defecting were Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, Senator Pam Nwadkou Dachungyang (Plateau North), PDP members in the House of Assembly, other federal lawmakers, local government chairmen and local opposition leaders.

The event, which makes Mutfwang, the 29th governor of the party, was witnessed by key leaders of the party, including National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, who presented him with the party’s flag and the broom symbol.

Leaders of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, governors of the party led by Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Hope Uzodimma of Imo State were on hand to receive Mutfwang.

Party supporters from across the 17 local governments showed solidarity at the rally.

Yilwatda, who recalled that Mutfwang was his senior in secondary school, pledged total support for his re-election, adding that all key political leaders, including candidates of Labour Party (LP), New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, in his home state, had dumped their parties for the APC platform.

He urged him to use the broom to sweep the remnants of opposition away if they would not join the ruling party.

Speaker after speaker at the rally affirmed that Mutfwang’s defection has put all six states in the Northcentral in APC bag as in the Southsouth where all the states are controlled by the APC.

Twenty-four hours before the Plateau State governor was received, Kano State Govenror Abba Kabir Yusuf was welcomed into the ruling party by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and former National Chairman Umar Ganduje after he registered for the party.

Shettima, whose speech capped yesterday’s rally, said: “Plateau is a reminder that what powers every nation is unity, not unity rooted in sameness, but unity anchored on shared purpose.

“To have Plateau in the All Progressives Congress is to show the world that we are indeed prepared to be the party for all Nigerians.”

He relived Plateau State’s historic role in Nigeria’s survival and cohesion, paying tribute to former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, John Wash Pam, Solomon Lar, Joshua Dariye, Lalong, Tallen, and other eminent sons and daughters who sacrificed for the nation’s survival.

Shettima said “Plateau gave Nigeria a leader whose strength lay in reconciliation. Nations survive not by conquest but by healing”.

The vice president conveyed assurances from President Tinubu that Mutfwang would enjoy full standing and recognition within the APC, stressing that good governance is an asset to any political movement committed to national progress.

He described the governor as a unifying leader whose administration has begun to reposition Plateau from conflict and stagnation towards peace and transformation.

He alluded to Mutfwang’s initiatives in peace building, renewable energy deployment for primary healthcare centres, agricultural expansion, transport infrastructure revitalisation, and people-focused budgets in education, healthcare and youth empowerment, urging him to sustain the tempo.

The APC is wooing more opposition leaders to the ruling party, Yilwatda said.

He said the membership drive embarked upon by the party has offered opportunity to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to jump out of the sinking platform to safety.

He said: “APC now has 29 states. We will be expecting more. We are not tired of getting everyone. Our intention, our motive is that everyone becomes members of APC.”

He added: “PDP is drowning. Come to the party that will give you life; come and take the broom that will give you the life jacket.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is away in Turkey, was represented by Shettima.

1,000 forest guards in Plateau

Shettima said the president has ordered the construction of the Akwanga/Jos Road and recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Plateau to complement the push for security in the state.

Akpabio, who led his colleagues, including Barau, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Simon Lalong, Rochas Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole, said Northcentral has now become another APC stronghold.

He said it is now evident that President Tinubu will win the next poll and Mutfwang will secure a second term.

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abba, who hailed Mutfwang’s courage, urged him to embark on reconciliation in the state to foster cohesion and harmony.

At the rally were PGF chairman Uzodimma; governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State), Ahmad,Aliyu (Sokoto), Dikko Raddah (Katsina), Monday Okphebolo (Edo), Abdullahi Sule(Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Agbu Kwfas (Taraba), and Francis Nwifuru (Akwa Ibom).

Other dignitaries included Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume; former Plateau Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen; former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase; Prof David Yakubu; APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru and other National Working Committee (NWC) members – Saliu Muazu, Duro Meseko, Chinedu Ogah, Senator Lawrence Adudu, Abdulkarim Kana, Garuba Datti, Mustapha Saliu and Sulemain Argungu.

‘Mutfwang will get second term ticket’

Yilwatda, who was Mutfwang’s rival during the 2023 poll, assured that he will get the second term ticket and win in next year’s election.

He said there is no vacancy in the Plateau Government House because APC is waxing stronger, having collapsed into one big family.

The APC chair expressed excitment that the governor, who was his senior in secondary school and opponent, would team with APC during the general election.

Yilwatda said: “My joy knows no bound. The candidates of APC, PDP, LP and other parties are now in APC. All the structues are now in APC, which is more powerful, more united, more intimidating and more prepared to deliver victory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are better, stronger and more united.”

The chairman added: “There will be justice. There will be no tribal sentiment. There will be peace in Plateau State. We will work together, not by words, but by action.

“That brotherhood that made us one, that brotherhood that makes us thick should expand. The time for unity, justice and peace is here.”

Turning to Mutfwang, the chairman said: “Our broom will give you strength to sweep all your supporters to APC. The broom will sweep away disunity. The broom will ensure that we are one.”

Yilwatda also said in 2027, both the President and the governor will win in Plateau overwhelmingly.

He added: “Anybody who dies not belong to the APC is a minority. All our federal and state lawmakers are APC. Our local government chairmen are APC. I urged those who are yet to join APC to come.”

Tinubu is most Christian-friendly leader, says Akpabio

Akpabio described President Tinubu-led administration as the most Christian friendly government since Nigeria came into existence.

He said: “Let me place on record that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is the most Christian-friendly administration since the creation of Nigeria. He has shown this through his actions and deeds. He treats both Christians and Muslims equally.”

The Senate President hailed Mutfwang for taking Plateau to the centre of Nigeria’s political gravity.

He said: “Mr. Governor, I congratulate you on this action of taking the people of Plateau to the centre of national politics. Let me assure you that insecurity will soon come to an end in the Plateau.

“We will support your government in all sectors inorder to better the lives of your people. We will not leave you alone. Today’s action has finally brought all the states in the North Central geo- political zone into the party. This is significant.

‘Government will do everything within its powers to protect Nigerians no matter their religious inclination and belief. We will support President Tinubu through approval of funds inorder to shut down all IDP camps in the state.”

Abbas: governor should reconcile tribes in Plateau

Abbas described the occasion as historic, noting that Plateau was the last state in the Northcentral to join the APC.

He urged Mutfwang to embrace reconciliation and provide inclusive leadership as the party leader in the state.

Abbas said: “As the state party leader, you should embrace reconciliation and promote brotherhood. Take members of APC and PDP as one indivisible family and give everyone a sense of belonging.”

APC will bring prosperity, says Uzodimma

Uzodimma said APC will nit renege on its promise of renewed hope, development and prosperity.

He described Mutfwang as one of the best and brightest, assuring that Plateau would reap the benefit of defection.

No formidable team like Tinubu/Shettima, says Sule

Sule said Northcentral is now a stronghold of APC, noting that the six ststes are under the leadership of the ruling party.

He said Plateau had chosen a path that would reposition it to fully support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

He praised the President’s passion for national unity and progress, urging Nigerians to work together to steady the nation.

The governor paid special tribute to Shettima, acknowledging his pivotal role in encouraging his defection to the ruling party.

I will unite Plateau, says Mutfwang

Mutfwang promised to unite the state and fortify the party to achieve victory in future polls.

He said: “Today’s movement is a landmark. It is statement that the people on the Plateau have made and they are here in their thousands to publicly declare their support for the APC and to return President Tinubu back to office in 2027.

“We are beginning a journey that our forefathers had long expected that we be united for peace and development.”

He thanked the president, Akpabio, Abbas and other party leaders for encouraging him to join the ruling party.

Stressing that “Plateau is a must-win state in future elections,” the governor, who hailed President Tinubu’s gestures, said: “it is better to follow a man that knows road.”

He added: “We have not come to take over. We have come to add value. All disunity and rivalries will now disappear. Plateau will be united. No more opposition in Plateau. We are not defecting. We are realigning. We are re-engineeribg. Plateau will be the joker in 2027.”

We can’t stop politicians from joining our party, says Morka

APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the party cannot prevent politicians from defecting.

He described the wave of defections as a reflection of confidence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Morka spoke during an interview monitored a cable television, where he responded to concerns over the growing number of governors defecting into the APC, including Kano governor.

Morka said governors defecting to the ruling party were aligning themselves with what he described as a ‘resurging Nigeria’ under the Tinubu administration.

He said: “What you see is governors who have decided to join our party to identify with this resurging Nigeria that this President is clearly positioning Nigeria to be.”

The spokesman added that the APC welcomed new members and would not act as a barrier to politicians seeking to join the party.

“We are happy; we are excited about people who join our party. We cannot be gatekeepers to filter out people who want to join our camp. We don’t do that because it is undemocratic,” Morka said.

Dismissing fears that the defections could lead to a one-party state, Morka dismissed such concerns, arguing that Nigeria had experienced similar political dominance in the past without undermining democracy.

He said: “The PDP at some point in our history governed Nigeria with about the same number of governors. I was very active in the political world at that time and there was no spectre anywhere about a one-party state because the PDP had those numbers of governors.

“That’s not the case now, and I think we should not equate people joining our party with that mode.” (The Nation)