The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday held what many observers described as one of the largest political rallies on the Plateau since 2015, receiving thousands of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and others. Party leaders described the development as the “final collapse of opposition structures” in the state.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, told the massive crowd that the wave of defections signalled “the birth of a new era” in Plateau politics.

He said the influx of new members reflected the growing national acceptance of the APC and vindicated what he described as the achievements of the Renewed Hope administration.

Akpabio praised Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman, describing him as the party’s “good luck charm for 2027” and expressed confidence that the entire Plateau would soon become an APC stronghold.

He commended President Tinubu’s commitment to restoring peace in Plateau State, insisting that no leader seeking to govern the state could do so without prioritising security.

The Senate President hailed the calibre of the defectors—including three serving House of Representatives members, a former senator, ex-lawmakers and the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate, Patrick Dakum—whom he referred to as “political tigers, generals, bulldozers and mammoths.” He added that Dakum told him privately that “the Labour Party is dead on the Plateau.”

Yilwatda, the APC national chairman declared that the day marked the “final consolidation of APC dominance,” insisting that “there is only one political party on the Plateau.”

He formally received the defectors including ID Gyang, a former senator, Letep Dabang, John Sura and other top figures, saying the expanded structure had positioned the party to deliver all elective seats to the APC in 2027.

Simon Bako Lalong, former governor of Plateau state, described the rally as the fulfilment of a long-standing prophecy that the APC would remain the dominant political force in Plateau.

He accused opponents of attempting to silence the party by sacking workers and elected officials after 2023 but said the APC “cannot be buried,” declaring that “it is the other party that is buried—forever.”

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Letep Dabang, former PDP State chairman and ex-Director-General of the Mutfwang Campaign Organisation said they left the PDP due to “deceit, oppression and failure to perform.”

He said the movement of top politicians into the APC reflected confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership and the direction provided by Yilwatda.

The rally, attended by Governors of Nasarawa and Benue States, drew supporters from all 17 LGAs and was widely described as a historic realignment of Plateau’s political landscape.