The All Progressives Congress (APC) received a major boost in Plateau State as thousands of members from opposition parties defected to the ruling party on Saturday.
The event, marked by fervent rallies, featured remarks from top government officials who celebrated the influx and campaigned for future electoral support.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who received the defectors on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressed the welfare concerns of the new members.
Referencing a prior commitment, Akpabio assured the new defectors of continuous support.
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“I just wanted to assure you that if you register, you will not be left out. And it will take care of you every month,” he said.
Akpabio recalled a conversation with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, regarding the humanitarian needs of the region.
He noted that the UK-based had expressed concern about his people in Plateau before he was appointed to head the ministry.
Akpabio congratulated the minister on his appointment, suggesting it was specifically tailored to address the needs of the state.
Akpabio directed the gathering to immediately begin registration, saying, “Get ready to get a register here. Get somebody to be here, where you can give them. I’ve specified each person.”
In his speech, Dr Doro addressed the crowd with a clear message of allegiance and political mobilisation.
“Everywhere you go, APC! We are glad to see the thousands that have come here to celebrate,” he stated, emphasising the party’s widespread appeal.
He encouraged attendees to back President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“We have every reason to support our dear president. We have every reason to come out in 2027 to elect our dear president. We have every reason to come out and support everyone who will contest under the platform of the APC.”
Dr Doro credited the administration with tangible achievements, noting that the “evidence of democracy has come onto the plateau.”
He urged the new members to disseminate the message of the party’s success and encourage more citizens to “decamp onto the APC.”
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The rally served as both a welcoming ceremony for the new members and a platform for top APC figures to rally support for the reelection of Tinubu in 2027 and the party’s future political contests.
