Jos: The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State on Sunday received a wave of defectors from opposition parties, a move party leaders described as a boost to its grassroots strength ahead of future political contests.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, received the defectors on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
Akpapio said that the mass influx of decampees into the APC was proof of the party’s wide acceptance among Nigerians.
He added that the defections were also a vindication of the optimal performance of the Renewed Hope Administration of Bola Tinubu.
“On behalf of the president, I wish to welcome the new members from various parties into our great party.
“They will be treated fairly and allowed to contribute to the growth of the APC by delivering the president, and electing a governor as well as State and National Assembly members,” he said.
Additionally, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, stated that the APC had sufficient “firepower” to win emphatically in the next general election.
“The APC will win Plateau governorship, National and State Assembly elections emphatically because our party is now united more than ever before.
“Today, we are receiving decampees from other parties, including those who worked against the APC during the last elections”, he maintained.
Yilwatda called for more cohesion under the leadership of President Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, was transforming Nigeria.
Also, Mr Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, expressed joy that the APC in Plateau and Nigeria at large was harvesting people of substance from other political parties.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum, described Plateau as a strong APC state, despite not having a governor.
He added that attracting persons from the current government in the state was a sign that the people believe in the APC and its ideals.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, the former Chairman of the APC in the State, Latep Dabang, said that they left the PDP due to deceit, oppression, and apparent failure to perform.
He said all the decampees from various political parties were happy with President Tinubu and the APC leadership under Yilwatda, as it is the national Chairman.
Some of the notable persons who were received into the APC included Sen. Istifanus Gyang, retired Brig.-Gen. John Sura, Chief Isaac Kwallu, among others.
